I

ANNUAL

REPORT

2012

II

CONTACT

UNMASOffice of Rule and Law and Security InstitutionsDepartment of Peacekeeping OperationsOne United Nations Plaza, DC-1 6th floorNew York, NY 10017 USA

Visit : unmas.org

III

Andorra

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Common Humanitarian Fund

Colombia

Denmark

Estonia

European Union

Finland

Germany

France

Italy

Japan

Republic of Korea

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

New Zealand

Oman

Saudi Arabia

Spain

Switzerland

United Kingdom

United States

CONTRIBUTORS

in these 17 programmes

+

17

ANNUAL REPORT 2012

around the worldPROGRAMMES

staff135 INTERNATIONAL

UNMAS UNHQstaff at30

18,000 NATIONALemployees

173.6$UNMAS

Operations Budget 2012

million

Regular and AssessedBudget for Peacekeeping

$113.5

from UN Trust Fund for Mine Action

$ 59.1

$ 13.1 22.1%Top Five Donors to VTF in 2012

EUROPEAN UNION million 1

$ 8.4 14.3%JAPAN million 2

$ 7 11.8%UNITED KINGDOM million 3

$ 6.4 10.9%AUSTRALIA million 4

$ 4.5 7.6%NETHERLANDS million 5

Peacekeeping Support Accountfor coordination $ 1 million

People from mine and ERW affected communities,UN military & civilian staff

Aggregateslandminesexplosive remnants of war unexploded ordnance

DESTROYED1,150,000 FREEDapx.16,000 sq. km. for productive use

RAPID RESPONSE INTERVENTIONS Democratic Republic of Congo, the Gaza Strip, Libya, Mali, the Republic of Congo and Syria

over 1,800,000 PROVIDED RISK EDUCATION

in

VI

VII

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword 1

From the Director 3Introduction 4Highlights 2012 7

A. SAVING LIVES, ENHANCING STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT 8 1 .  Emergency Response, Coordination

and Technical Support 8 2. Country Support 10

B. STRENGTHENING THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM 25 1 .  Supporting Coordination Frameworks 25 2. Developing Policy 28

C. SUPPORTING INTEGRATION OF MINE ACTION INTO GLOBAL FRAMEWORKS 30

1 .  Mine Action At The United Nations 30 2. Mine Action In International Norms 30

D. COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH 33

E. OPERATING TRANSPARENTLY AND EFFICIENTLY 34 1 .  Accountability And Transparency 34 2. Operational Preparedness 35

F. UNMAS RESOURCES 36 1 .  UNMAS Funding In 2012 36 2. UNMAS Staffing And Funding 36 3. Good Mine Action Donorship 37

ANNEXES 38 1 .  Donors To The Un Trust Fund For Mine Action 38 2. Financial Performance Overview 40

Acronyms 53

VIII

1

FOREWORD

The year 2012 was an important one for UNMAS.

Delivering on its commitment, UNMAS has successfully

led and completed the United Nations Mine Action

Strategy, which was endorsed, last December, by

the heads of United Nations entities active in mine

action. This was a welcome reaffirmation of UNMAS

leadership and coordination role. Simultaneously, my

counterparts entrusted UNMAS with the responsibility

of establishing, hosting and operating the United

Nations Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism for

Mine Action, a commitment to accountability and

transparency that I wholeheartedly support. The

Secretary-General appointed a new Director, the first

woman to occupy this post, who immediately focused

her attention on management reforms, strengthening

partnerships, forging new ones and improving

dialogue and coordination, both at Headquarters and

at the country level.

Every year, mines, explosive remnants of war and

other explosive hazards kill or injure thousands of

human beings worldwide. This is a tragedy. These

indiscriminate explosive devices sow constant fear

in scores of countries, affecting millions of people.

A single landmine – or even the fear of its presence

– can hold an entire community hostage, effectively

robbing people of their livelihoods. Furthermore,

their presence blocks the rapid deployment of

peacekeepers and the delivery of humanitarian relief,

thus delaying in real terms the reconstruction of

areas affected by war.

The results of UNMAS interventions are immediate

and long-lasting. In South Sudan, markets are bustling

for the first time in 20 years because people are now

more free to move about, allowing trade to resume.

In Afghanistan, community-based demining and risk

education contribute directly to stabilization and

security, including by employing thousands of Afghans.

In 2012, the scope of UNMAS work continued to evolve

in response to the needs of the millions of people

increasingly exposed to all types of explosive hazards.

For example, the current crisis in the Sahel shows

how the proliferation of weapons fuels insurgency,

as illicitly acquired ammunition is used for nefarious

purposes, including for improvised explosive devices.

In Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the

Congo, Libya and Mali, to name just a few countries,

Governments are requesting UNMAS help in

improving the safety, security and management of

their weapons and ammunition. UNMAS has also been

increasingly called upon to provide its expertise to

other sectors, including disarmament, demobilization

and reintegration, and security sector reform.

The 2012 annual report chronicles the central role of

UNMAS in the protection of civilians, peacekeeping,

peacebuilding, humanitarian relief and development,

allowing missions to deploy rapidly and assisting

refugees and internally displaced persons in safely

returning to their homes.

A lot has been achieved. Nonetheless, the remaining

challenges demand more intense and focused efforts.

Thanks to the invaluable trust and support of its

partners, UNMAS will continue to ensure that lives

are spared, that the needs, rights and dignity of

survivors are protected and restored and that the fear

and insecurity that landmines and remnants of war

instill in so many can be alleviated.

I applaud UNMAS for spearheading mine action and

addressing so humanely the needs and aspirations of

communities and survivors affected by these terrible

and indiscriminate weapons. I pay tribute and am

grateful to the staff of UNMAS for their dedication.

2

3

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Throughout 2012, there was barely a moment when

the specialized staff and equipment of UNMAS were

not needed to mitigate the effects of explosive threats

caused by armed conflict and emergencies. UNMAS

expert advice and good practices were also sought by

many, at the international and regional levels, as well

as in diplomatic and technical settings, from Geneva

to Addis Ababa and Bogota.

Thanks to the support of its partners, UNMAS

has continued to create conditions conducive to

sustainable peace, development and respect for human

rights. Its rapid response and expert interventions

have saved countless lives, released vast territories

for productive use and provided critical support to

peacekeepers and the humanitarian community.

Building on its first responder and coordination

capacities, UNMAS has paved the way for international

assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the

State of Palestine, Libya, Mali, the Republic of Congo,

as well as in Syria. In Abyei, Afghanistan, Somalia,

South Sudan, Sudan and the territory of Western

Sahara, UNMAS organized and led large-scale

clearance operations and risk awareness campaigns

to facilitate freedom of movement and public safety.

One of UNMAS proudest achievements is that years

of expert assistance allowed Afghanistan to own its

mine action programme entirely staffed by Afghans

and to fulfill its “Ottawa obligations” within a decade.

The crises in Libya, Mali, the Republic of Congo,

Syria, and Somalia have highlighted the dangerous

consequences of unsecured and poorly-managed

stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, as well as of

Improvised Explosive Devices. As the United Nations

lead entity on explosive hazards, UNMAS worked

with national security forces and troop-contributing

countries to strengthen their capacity to respond to

these evolving threats.

Whether in New York, Geneva or in one of the 17

programmes it managed in 2012, UNMAS has provided

innovative approaches and enhanced coordination,

and has additionally promoted the universalization of

international humanitarian and human rights law. In

accordance with its commitment to inclusiveness and

action-oriented partnership, UNMAS successfully

engaged a wide range of partners to elaborate the

Strategy of the United Nations on Mine Action 2013-

2018. And, in keeping with International Public Sector

Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and the International

Aid Transparency Initiative, UNMAS, in partnership

with UNOPS, is actively promoting public access to

information on its field activities. Further, to enhance

its active support of “One UN” in mine action and

to meaningful coordination, a “re-profiled” UNMAS

Geneva Office is in the process of serving as the “hub”

for humanitarian and human rights coordination of

mine action.

This 2012 Annual Report illustrates UNMAS

determined efforts to increase transparency,

accountability, cost-effectiveness and meaningful

partnerships, to secure maximum impact and to

serve member states and affected communities as a

nimble and reliable service provider.

It was a successful year for UNMAS because you

trusted its ability to make a positive difference and

supported its activities. I am confident that the many

management and other initiatives undertaken in the

past few months will continue to demonstrate to

all mine action stakeholders that UNMAS and mine

action are a worthwhile investment.

I look forward to many more years of life-saving

accomplishments.

Agnès MarcaillouDirector, UNMAS

4

INTRODUCTION

The United Nations Focal Point for Mine Action

UNMAS is the United Nations focal point for mine

action. Fourteen entities are working together in

the United Nations system to implement the United

Nations vision of a world free from the threat of mine,

and explosive remnants of war (ERW) including

cluster munitions. UNMAS leads that effort in six key

areas:

• Survey, mark, fence-off, and clear explosive

hazards, including mines, ERW, cluster munitions

• Educating people on the risks of explosive hazards

• Facilitating and coordinating victim assistance,

including emergency and other medical

assistance, rehabilitation, social and economic

reintegration for survivors

• Advocating adherence to and compliance with

relevant instruments of international humanitarian

and human rights law

• Assisting countries in the destruction of stockpiles

• Ensuring effective coordination and coherent

approaches for greatest impact

UNMAS work provides critical support to the

protection of civilians, peacekeeping, humanitarian

relief and development, allowing UN staff to rapidly

deploy and refugees and internally displaced persons

(IDPs) to safely return to their homes and resume

their lives without fear.

The UNMAS team includes 30 staff in New York

and Geneva, supporting 17 programmes managed

by approximately 130 international staff and some

18,000 local personnel.

Mandate

UNMAS leadership and coordination role on

explosive hazards reduction relies on a solid

foundation of legislative mandates.

UNMAS is mandated by the United Nations General

Assembly (GA) to ensure an effective, proactive

and coordinated response to the problem posed

by a wide range of explosive hazards. Legislative

mandates also recognize UNMAS technical

expertise in responding to threats posed by

unsecured and unsafe conventional weapons and

ammunition stockpiles.

UNMAS supports peacekeeping and special

political missions throughout the world in

accordance with Security Council mandates.

It also intervenes at the request of Member

States and United Nations Country Teams in the

context of humanitarian emergencies.

UNMAS also contributes to the implementation

of instruments of International Humanitarian

and Human Rights Law, including the Anti–

Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBT); the

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

(CCW), its Amended Protocol II and Protocol

V; the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM);

the Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities (CRPD); as well as the United Nations

Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light

Weapons (UNPoA).

5

Vision

UNMAS mission is to achieve a world free of the

threat of mines and explosive remnants of war,

including cluster munitions, where individuals and

communities live in a safe environment conducive

to development and where the human rights and

the needs of mine and ERW victims are met and

survivors are fully integrated as equal members of

their societies.

- Strategy of the United Nations on Mine Action

2013-2018

Programme management

UNMAS operates in some of the most challenging

environments in the world. From Afghanistan to Mali,

from Somalia to Colombia and elsewhere, UNMAS

provides advisory support as part of peacekeeping

operations and special political missions and rapid

response deployment to humanitarian emergencies.

Working with governments and other actors to

provide timely and effective mine action responses,

UNMAS funds, manages and carries out mine

clearance, mine risk education, victim assistance and

stockpile destruction activities and provides expert

guidance and training to national authorities.

As first responders, UNMAS explosive hazards experts

are standing by to provide essential rapid response

capability to deploy at short notice to emergencies,

paving the way for humanitarian assistance, and

to facilitate access for affected communities and

peacekeepers.

UNMAS runs 17 programmes around the world on a

US $200 million average annual operational budget,

including over US $59 million of contributions from

donors in 2012.

Policy

UNMAS identifies emerging trends and best

practices, and develops policy to enhance sector-

wide operational effectiveness and accountability

as the coordinator of the Inter Agency Coordination

Group for Mine Action (IACG-MA).

UNMAS policy work promotes adherence to normative

standards for the full range of explosive hazards.

UNMAS articulates and integrates mine action

priorities into the agendas of United Nations legislative

bodies and leads United Nations advocacy for the

development, strengthening and implementation of

international agreements related to explosive hazards

and the rights of persons affected by them.

Coordination

As the United Nations focal point, UNMAS seeks

to improve the effectiveness of the Organization

to address explosive hazards by ensuring greater

operational and policy effectiveness, accountability

and partnership. UNMAS leads critical inter-agency

coordination mechanisms such as the Inter-Agency

Coordination Group on Mine Action (IACG-MA), the

Mine Action Area of Responsibility (MA-AoR) under

the Global Protection Cluster and contributes to the

Inter-Agency Support Group on the Convention on

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (IASG-CRPD)

and the Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA)

mechanism.

UNMAS develops policies and standards for the mine

action community as well as common positions on

mine action for United Nations entities. UNMAS

mobilizes resources and coordinates mine action

interventions on the ground, including through

processes such as the annual Portfolio of Mine Action

Projects.

From its headquarters, in New York and Geneva,

UNMAS provides policy direction and technical

and financial support to its field offices and partner

organizations.

6

Global advocacy, outreach and public information

UNMAS ensures that mine action receives the highest

profile in publications, social media, websites, and

world press arenas. From annual commemorations

of the “Mine Action Day” to organization of specific

exhibits, films, and press events, UNMAS outreach

materials reach a wide audience to generate greater

awareness, activism, and funding for mine action.

The E-MINE website (http://www.mineaction.org/)

managed by UNMAS presents an online “gateway” to

all issues related to mine action and to the network of

actors and stakeholders.

Resource mobilization and management

UNMAS is the manager of an inter-agency funding

mechanism – the United Nations Trust Fund for Mine

Action (VTF) –, which has received over US $760

million in contributions since 1998. Since 2010, the

VTF has supported 24 countries and one territory1.

In addition to country level support, advocacy,

headquarters coordination and the Standing Mine

Action Capacity depend on critical funding.1The

funds allocated to the VTF have been distributed to

key United Nations partners, national partners and

non-governmental organizations2. UNMAS maintains

a close relationship with donor governments and

affected countries, and seeks innovative partnerships

with civil society and the private sector to mobilize

resources for mine action and essential headquarters

coordination functions.

1 Afghanistan, Albania, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uganda, and territory of Western Sahara (MINURSO)

2 Association for Aid and Relief Vocational Training for the Disa-bled (AAR), Geneva Call, Campagna Italiana Contro le Mine (CICM), Dan Chruch Aid (DCA), Geneva International Center for Humanitari-an Demining (GICHD), Handicap International, Information Manage-ment and Mine Action Program (IMMAP), International Campaign to Ban Landmines, International Trust Fund, Danish Deminig Group (DDG), National Mine Action Center in Senegal, and National Hu-manitarian Demining Programme for Development in Mauritania.

AFGHANISTAN

LEBANON

PALESTINELIBYA

LIBERIA

SOMALIA

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGOCÔTE D'IVOIRE

MALI

WESTERN SAHARA

COLOMBIA

SOUTH SUDAN

SUDAN

SYRIA

DARFUR ABYEI

REPUBLIC OF CONGO

UNMAS in 2012

7

Highlights 2012

• As the UN focal point for mine action, UNMAS led

the development and ensured the adoption of the

Strategy of the United Nations on Mine Action 2013-

2018, which will guide the work of the 12 UN entities

working on mine action over the next six years.

• UNMAS continued to develop policy, standards and

good practices and to provide training to national

authorities and peacekeepers to strengthen sector-

wide capacity, most notably in emerging areas

including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and

weapons and ammunition safety management.

• UNMAS continued to coordinate United Nations

advocacy efforts for the universal adoption and

implementation of international instruments aimed

at protecting civilians from the threat of landmines

and ERW, including cluster munitions. UNMAS

delivered key United Nations statements, provided

substantial inputs to expert meetings and assisted

other entities, notably civil society, engaged in

advocacy campaigns with states and non-state

actors. On the ground, UNMAS provided advocacy

and advisory support to member states in fulfilling

their obligations under relevant treaties.

• Rapid Response – UNMAS was the first responder

to emergencies caused by armed conflict and

explosive hazards in the Democratic Republic

of Congo, the Gaza Strip, Mali, the Republic of

Congo as well as Syria.

• In Afghanistan, UNMAS supported transition to

full national ownership of mine action coordination

to an all-Afghan Mine Action Coordination Centre

of Afghanistan (MACCA). To declare Afghanistan

mine-free by 2023, UNMAS supported the Afghan

Government in drafting a ten-year extension

request to meet its obligations under the APMBT.

• Following the devastating explosion of an

ammunition depot in the heart of Brazzaville in the

Republic of Congo, UNMAS led the international

emergency response and safely destroyed 94 tons

of explosive items, enabling national authorities

and the population to safely reclaim the city.

• In Colombia, UNMAS worked closely with national

authorities to establish the legal and technical

framework to allow civilian demining to resume and

strengthened national capacity to coordinate and

manage mine action in line with international standards.

• In Côte d’Ivoire, UNMAS cleared unexploded

ordnance (UXO) following the post-election

violence of 2011, disposed of all known stockpiles

of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions,

and rehabilitated ammunition storage facilities

for the army and police.

• In Libya, UNMAS secured millions of US dollars’

worth of ammunition stockpiles thereby preventing

illicit use in or beyond Libya, and worked with

UNICEF to facilitate the promotion of mine and ERW

risk education for more than 150,000 Libyans.

• In Palestine, UNMAS supported the Palestinian

Authority in establishing the Palestinian Mine

Action Centre (PMAC) in Ramallah to coordinate

mine action activities in the West Bank.

• In South Sudan, UNMAS released more than 900

square kilometres of land - almost three times the

size of Malta - for agricultural development and

infrastructure reconstruction.

• In Syria, UNMAS provided critical expertise

on explosive hazards to the United Nations

Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic

(UNSMIS) and provided risk awareness and

counter-IED training to over 400 UN military

observers and UN civilian staff.

• In Somalia, UNMAS supported the African Union

Mission In Somalia (AMISOM), the Somali

security sector and the humanitarian community.

As a result of capacity development support, the

police in Mogadishu are able to systematically

respond to explosive threat callouts.

8

A. Saving Lives, Enhancing Stability and Development

In 2012, UNMAS supported 18 countries and

territories, running clearance and life-saving mine

awareness activities, building national capacity

for mine action and working with governments and

other actors to provide rapid and effective mine

action responses. The nature and scope of UNMAS

work continued to evolve beyond its traditional focus

on landmines and ERW, to encompass a broader

spectrum of explosive hazards including weapons

and ammunition management and disposal, as well

as mitigating the threat of IEDs.

1. Emergency response, coordination and technical support

As first responder, UNMAS, through its rapid response

team of explosive hazards experts, continues to be

a critical resource for the international community

to respond to humanitarian emergencies, as well

as to provide technical support at the request of

governments.

Funding

• VTF – US $1.8 million

• Donors – Netherlands; United Kingdom

Central African Republic

At the request of the Government of the Central African

Republic (CAR) and the UN Integrated Peacebuilding

Office in Central African Republic (BINUCA), UNMAS

conducted a technical assessment mission in

December 2012, and destroyed stockpiles including

over 11,600 excess munitions and ERW, and 165,900

small arms ammunition (SAA) items, of which 90 per

cent were stored in a Central African Armed Forces

(FACA) facility in central Bangui. UNMAS also advised

the Government on improving physical security and

control measures of their stockpiles against potential

theft and illicit use by rebel groups.

Mali

In Mali, in the immediate aftermath of the crisis in

January 2012, UNMAS established a programme to

prepare for an emergency assessment of explosive

threats, support risk education and provide

coordinated assistance, expertise, training and

equipment to the Malian Defense and Security Forces

and the African-led International Support Mission to

Mali (AFISMA). Further to Security Council resolution

2071 (2012) and 2085 (2012), UNMAS participated

in the DPKO/DFS planning team deployed in Bamako

in October 2012 to assess the capacity and needs

of national authorities, the Economic Community of

Western African States (ECOWAS) and the African

Union (AU). UNMAS support ensures a coherent

mine action response through Explosive Ordnance

Disposal (EOD), mine clearance, counter-IED

activities, weapon and ammunition management

operations and related training to ECOWAS and

national forces.

Funding

• VTF – US $64, 715

• Donor - France

9

Republic of Congo

On 4 March 2012, Brazzaville was devastated by

explosions in an ammunition depot in the heart of the

city, killing more than 280 people, injuring 1,500 and

displacing some 20,000. The resulting contamination

by UXO scattered across the city was extremely high

within a one kilometre radius from the impacted area

with around 15,000 people directly at risk of further

explosions.

Acting as first responder in the aftermath of the

explosion, UNMAS led an emergency response and

established the United Nations Mine Action Team

(UNMAT) to coordinate the international response

in cooperation with the United Nations Humanitarian

Coordinator and other actors on the ground including

the Congolese Armed Forces. Mine action experts

were deployed immediately to assess the risk,

immediate measures were taken to secure high-risk

areas and coordination functions were established.

UNMAT formed a joint civilian-military headquarters

to ensure optimal working cooperation, transparency

and involvement of national authorities. By the end of

2012, UNMAS and partners were able to clear most of

the UXO with no casualties since the beginning of the

UNMAS response. A temporary ammunition storage

area was created to keep the enormous amount of

UXO and munitions found in the area under secure

and safe conditions. Pending additional funding, it is

envisaged to organize systematic demolitions at an

external location throughout the first half of 2013

when the temporary stock reaches full capacity.

Syria

The crisis in Syria has resulted in massive civilian

casualties, internal and external displacement, the

destruction of infrastructure and essential services,

extensive use of IEDs as well as devastating levels of

ERW contamination in major urban centers throughout

the country. UNMAS began its engagement in Syria in

April 2012 following the adoption of Security Council

resolution 2043 (2012) which established the United

Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab

Republic (UNSMIS) for an initial period of 90 days.

UNMAS successfully provided strategic advice to

humanitarian and peacekeeping planning processes

and risk awareness and safety training to over 400

UN military observers and UN civilian staff. UNMAS

technical analysis and safety training protected UN

staff and military observers from the risk of injury or

death from ERW and IEDs.

On cessation of the mission, and at the request of

the UN Country Team, UNMAS continued to provide

various explosive hazards-related services including

IED post-blast assessments to the humanitarian

community. Since October 2012, UNMAS is a full

member of the UN Humanitarian Response Team in

Syria maintaining a small presence in Damascus and

an office in Amman, Jordan.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $1.4 million

10

2. Country Support

Abyei Area

The final status of the Abyei region remains one

of the main unresolved issues of the Sudanese

Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Fighting between

Sudan and South Sudan in May 2011 over the

disputed border area resulted in the total destruction

of the town of Abyei and surrounding villages, the

displacement of over 100,000 people from their

homes, and additional mine and UXO contamination.

In response, the UN established the UN Interim

Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and deployed

4,200 Ethiopian peacekeepers.

As mandated by Security Council resolutions 1990

(2011) and 2024 (2011), UNMAS conducts mine threat

assessments and clearance operations in support

of UNISFA, local communities and humanitarian

partners. UNMAS operations have been pivotal in

allowing the deployment of UNISFA military units

and opening access to humanitarian organizations

and civilians throughout the Abyei Area. UNMAS

enables the work of the Joint Border Verification

and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) along the

2,100 kilometres international border between South

Sudan and Sudan. UNMAS provides training to UN

and national observers prior to deployment and

facilitates access on the ground by assessing and

clearing priority areas and routes.

In November 2012, Security Council resolution 2075

expanded UNMAS role to include identification and

clearance of mines in the Safe Demilitarized Border

Zone.

• UNMAS assessed over 10 million square metres

in Abyei town and 25 villages in the Abyei

Area; over 838 ERW items were recovered; over

309 kilometres of roads were surveyed and 32

kilometres have been verified and cleared; 229

kilometres of route assesment conducted.

• UNMAS assessed, constructed and marked

helicopter landing sites in Todach, Tajalei and

Noong, and cleared the site of the 20 March 2012

mine incident which destroyed a UNISFA truck

near Tajalei, reopening the route for mission use.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $14.5 million

11

Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of

Despite tremendous progress, Afghanistan is one of the most

heavily mined countries in the world. UNMAS estimates that

over 670,000 Afghans (3 per cent of the total population)

live within 500 metres of landmine contaminated areas.

The presence of mines and ERW has serious implications

for security and stabilization. Lost access to productive

land reinforces poverty, de-stabilizes communities and

undermines opportunities for development.

Since 2002, UNMAS has provided technical assistance

and oversight to the Mine Action Coordination Center

of Afghanistan (MACCA) to clear the nation of mines

and ERW, provide life-saving mine risk education and

assistance to victims. Through MACCA, UNMAS was

able to build national capacity in Afghanistan, helping

the country manage its clearance operations under the

Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) and

creating 14,000 jobs in the process. The programme is

saving lives and achieving development impacts across

the country. For example, clearance work around the

Mes Aynak copper mine, south of Kabul, will enable the

creation of an estimated 8,000 jobs and is forecasted to

generate US $300 million a year for Afghanistan by 2016.

• A key success in 2012 has been the transition to

full national ownership of mine action coordination.

MACCA is now an all-Afghan entity, with UNMAS

providing support from a new office located a few

kilometres from the MACCA.

• UNMAS supported the Afghan Government in

preparing a ten-year extension request to meet its

obligations under the APMBT and a plan to declare

Afghanistan mine-free by 2023.

• With UNMAS technical support, MACCA initiated a

nationwide village-by-village survey. The Mine and

ERW Impact Free Community Survey will paint a

clear picture of the remaining mine and ERW threat in

Afghanistan and ensure better planning as Afghanistan

approaches mine-free status.

• Community-based demining contributed directly to

stabilization and security by employing hundreds of

12

villagers to clear fields in addition to the 13,500

Afghans that are currently employed in the mine

action sector.

• Despite a highly volatile environment, UNMAS

cleared 125 square kilometres of land and the number

of mine and ERW victims decreased by 26 per cent.

• Over 26,000 landmines, 886,000 ERW and 690

remnant IEDs were destroyed.

• Over 780,000 people from mine and ERW affected

communities were given mine and ERW risk

education. 290,000 were boys, who are most at risk.

• A telephone hotline and an electronic message

system were established for communities to report

ERW hazards or casualties – one of the first of its

kind in any landmine and ERW affected country.

• UNMAS trained 31 community police and 6

Ministry of Education Child Protection Officers to

deliver mine and ERW risk education as part of a

pilot project to instruct the Afghan Police on mine

risk education.

Funding

• Total contributions to the VTF – US $21.8 million

• Donors – Australia; Austria; Canada; Denmark;

European Union; Finland; Germany; Italy; Japan;

Republic of Korea; Lithuania; Netherlands; Oman;

Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates3; United

Kingdom; United States.

3 The contribution from United Arab Emirates was applied in 2012, and already accounted for in the UNMAS 2011 Annual Report. This multiyear commitment enabled significant progress in Kandahar Province, one of the most mine-affected and unstable regions in Af-ghanistan, in 2012.

Chad

Following nearly 30 years of armed conflicts, large

areas of Chad remain contaminated by mines and

ERW, in the East on the border area with Darfur, in

the North as a consequence of the Chadian-Libyan

conflict and in the West due to various rebellions. The

presence of mines and ERW represent a permanent

danger for the Chadian population, obstruct freedom

of movement and access to pasture land, water

points, road networks and economic hubs.

At the request of the Government of Chad, UNMAS

continued to provide mine action support to national

authorities following the withdrawal of the United

Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and

Chad (MINURCAT) in 2011. UNMAS works, as part of

the Mine Action Team (MAT), with other UN and NGO

partners to facilitate manual clearance operations

and assist the Centre National de Déminage in

building national capacity to reduce the threat and

support victims.

• Despite limited resources and a challenging

operating environment, UNMAS conducted road

and area clearance in eastern Chad to help limit

casualties and allow affected communities to

resume use of resources formerly blocked by

mines and ERW.

• On behalf of the Government of Japan, UNMAS

completed a survey identifying the scope and

nature of landmine and ERW contamination

throughout Chad.

• A clearance operation was initiated in Tibesti,

with support from the European Union, which

is contributing to opening a major line of

communication in the northwest of the country.

Funding

• UNMAS suspended its operations in Chad due to

a funding shortfall.

13

Colombia

Colombia is another country significantly affected

by landmines. Since 1990, mines, IEDs and other

explosive ordnance have been used by non-state

armed groups, narcotics traffickers and paramilitary

forces. As a result, 31 out of 32 departments of the

country are thought to be contaminated.

In the context of renewed peace negotiations between

the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces

of Colombia (FARC), humanitarian demining is

emerging as an important element in the context of

the restitution of suspected contaminated land but

also as a potential factor in post-conflict disarmament,

demobilization and reintegration scenarios.

Since 2010, UNMAS has assisted the Presidential

Programme for Integrated Mine Action (PAICMA)

with initiating and coordinating civilian demining

operations in the country in line with international

standards. UNMAS is also supporting the

implementation of a quality management system for

the entire sector including the military humanitarian

demining battalion.

• The technical and legal framework is now

established to move humanitarian demining

forward and allow the deployment of an essential

civilian demining national capacity able to address

land release and land restitution needs.

• UNMAS worked closely with PAICMA and the

Organization of American States (OAS) to

implement the national accreditation system and

improve the external monitoring of operations.

Following the initial deployment of a civilian

capacity, over 594,000 square metres and two

municipalities were declared free of the threat of

mines.

• At the request of the Ministry of Defense, UNMAS

provided technical advice to the humanitarian

demining military battalion to upgrade existing

standard operating procedures in line with the

newly developed national standards.

Funding

• Total contributions to the VTF – US $280,000

• Donors – Colombia; Netherlands

14

Côte d’Ivoire

The post-election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire in 2011

left a trail of ERW, which posed a direct threat to

human security and hampered reconstruction and

rehabilitation efforts. UNMAS deployed to conduct an

emergency assessment in the immediate aftermath

of the crisis. In addition to the threat from UXO,

UNMAS identified the need to secure and manage

weapons and ammunitions scattered throughout the

country.

Mandated by Security Council resolutions 2000 (2011)

and 2062 (2012), UNMAS works in support of the

United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI)

and clears explosives on request and ensures the safe

handling and storage of weapons and ammunition

in support of the disarmament, demobilization and

reintegration programme. UNMAS secures and

rehabilitates poorly managed stockpiles of weapons

and ammunition and builds the capacity of Ivorian

security forces in managing these stockpiles.

• UNMAS significantly reduced the immediate

threat caused by UXO in Abidjan with just 26

EOD spot tasks conducted. More than 360 UXO

and over 6,600 kg of unserviceable and expired

ammunition were destroyed.

• UNMAS processed and destroyed more than

1,850 weapons and 87,890 items of small

arms ammunition in support of disarmament,

demobilization and reintegration operations

conducted by UNOCI and Ivorian authorities.

• UNMAS technical support has significantly

strengthened the national capacity to manage and

secure weapons and ammunition in Côte d’Ivoire.

In 2012 alone, 11 assessments of ammunition

storage depots were carried out; some 36

weapon and ammunition storage facilities were

constructed and 26 Forces républicaines de Côte

d’Ivoire (FRCI), Gendarme and Police officers

received training in EOD and Ammunition Safety

Management (ASM).

• UNMAS advocated for compliance with the

APMBT and provided technical and advisory

assistance to the FRCI for the destruction of 842

stockpiled landmines.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $6.1 million

15

Darfur

In Darfur, ERW pose a serious threat to civilians,

UN peacekeepers and the delivery of humanitarian

aid. All routes travelled on by UN entities and

international NGOs convoys require continuous

assessment and clearance to guarantee safe travel.

Although the landmine threat appears relatively low

in Darfur, there are known areas of contamination,

mostly on the borders between Chad and West

Darfur, South Kordofan and South Darfur, and north

towards Libya. Most of these areas remain closed for

UNAMID operations but may require future attention

if the situation changes.

The Security Council resolution 1769 (2007)

mandated UNMAS to provide coordination, technical

advice and operational demining capacity to the UN

Assistance Mission In Darfur (UNAMID) in support of

the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

UNMAS works in direct support of mission priorities to

create a safe environment, protect civilians, facilitate

the delivery of humanitarian assistance and ensure

freedom of movement. UNAMID operations, logistic

patrols and escorts rely on UNMAS ability to ensure

that all routes and team sites are assessed and cleared

of any ERW contamination. UNMAS also works

with the National Mine Action Center (NMAC) to

strengthen national capacity in all aspects of planning,

coordination of operations and data management.

• National capacity building remained a key focus as

UNMAS provided basic EOD training to national

staffs who are now deployed in all five sectors of

UNAMID.

• One hundred per cent of previous total dangerous

areas were cleared despite an increase of 60 per

cent in recorded new dangerous areas due to

renewed conflict.

• Approximately 93,000 individuals benefited from

community-based mine risk education.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $10.1 million

16

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of

Congo (DRC) have left mines and ERW throughout

the country, and continue to cause significant

population displacement, in particular in the east

where hostilities have been on the rise since March

2012. According to the Office for the Coordination

of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there were more

than 2.2 million IDPs in DRC as of December 2012,

an increase of 25 per cent since January 2012. Mine

and ERW contamination affect communities and the

peacekeepers.

UNMAS, mandated by Security Council resolutions

1291 (2000) and 1756 (2007), established the UN

Mine Action Coordination Center (UNMACC) to

support the mandate of MONUSCO, to coordinate

humanitarian mine action activities in the DRC and

to assist with capacity development of national

authorities. Since 2002, UNMAS released more than

eight million square metres of land for productive use.

Over 27,700 kilometres of roads have been assessed

to mitigate risks to communities, facilitate freedom

of movement as well as humanitarian assistance and

reconstruction activities.

• UNMAS handed over four square kilometres of

land to local authorities near Kisangani airport,

enabling local communities to safely resume

agricultural activities.

• More than 30,000 items of UXO were removed or

destroyed throughout the country.

• As first responder in the aftermath of the M23

crisis in North Kivu, UNMAS assessed and

cleared various sites including Goma Airport,

enabling humanitarian assistance to resume.

From November to December 2012, UNMAS

emergency response teams collected and

destroyed over 2,660 UXO and 51,400 small

arms ammunition. UNMAS also supported the

MONUSCO disarmament, demobilization and

reintegration programme in the destruction of

more than 660 small arms collected from armed

rebel groups in North Kivu.

• UNMAS assisted the armed forces in improving

the management of ammunition stockpiles in

Kisangani.

• UNMAS initiated a National Landmine

Contamination Survey to assess all suspected

and known mined areas in compliance with the

APMBT. This undertaking will provide a detailed

picture of the extent of the contamination.

• UNMAS assisted the Congolese Center for Mine

Action (CCLAM) to develop its transitional work

plan for 2012-2014 and national standards on

Victim Assistance.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $6.6 million

• VTF contributions – US $1.1 million

• Donors – Japan; Luxembourg; Netherlands

• In-kind contribution – Switzerland

17

Lebanon

Lebanon has some 425,000 landmines, more than

18 square kilometres of land contaminated by cluster

bombs and, following the conflict between Lebanon and

Israel in 2006, south Lebanon was further contaminated

with thousands of ERW. A total of 56 people have been

killed and 362 injured since August 2006.

Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 1701

(2006), mandated UNMAS to provide information

management training, accreditation, quality assurance

and monitoring to the United Nations Interim Force

in Lebanon (UNIFIL) clearance units in compliance

with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS)

and National Mine Action Standards (NMAS). Since

September 2011, UNMAS has validated UNIFIL

troop contributing countries conducting demining

operations on the Blue Line. UNMAS assists the

Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC) in developing

national capacity for managing clearance operations.

• UNMAS supported training, quality assurance,

and monitoring and validation activities to

ensure compliance of UNIFIL demining troop

contributing countries with IMAS and NMAS for

the completion of the Blue Line project.

• Just over 60 per cent of approved Blue Line

markers were completed by the end of 2012. The

clear marking of the Blue Line between Israel and

Lebanon, which is the focus of UNIFIL demining

activities, is an important part of resolution 1701

(2006) to minimize the risk of violence.

• UNMAS facilitated the contribution of US $1

million for humanitarian demining activities in

south Lebanon from Saudi Arabia.

• UNMAS provided LMAC with victim assistance

support.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $6.6 million

• VTF contributions – US $1.1 million

• Donors – Austria; Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia

18

Libya

The 2011 conflict in Libya exacerbated the threat of

ERW4. The massive amount of unsecured weapons

and ammunition is a major challenge. National and

regional proliferation of unsecured ammunition and

weapons pose a major challenge. The full extent and

scope of the threat has yet to be determined. With

dozens of storage areas damaged or destroyed, vast

amounts of territory are potentially affected. This

holds serious implications for the security of Libya

and international security.

UNMAS activities in Libya were informed by Security

Council resolution 1970 (2011) and mandated by

resolutions 2009 (2011), 2022 (2011) and 2040

(2012). UNMAS supports the mandate of the United

Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and

provides technical advice to the Government on all

aspects of humanitarian mine action and explosive

hazard risk mitigation, including weapons and

ammunition safety management.

4 Most contaminated areas include Ajdabiya, Brega, Misrata, and the Nafusah Mountains.

UNMAS currently supports the Government in

developing a national institutional governance

structure for humanitarian mine action, arms and

ammunition management. Through collaboration with

national and local counterparts, UNMAS continues

to strengthen requisite capacities and to support the

coordination of international assistance. Twenty five

clearance teams and seven risk education teams,

employing on average 150 Libyans are deployed on

the ground to clear explosive items and secure viable

ammunition stockpiles that lie unguarded.

• UNMAS secured millions of US dollars worth of

ammunition stockpiles thereby preventing illicit

use in or beyond Libya.

• UNMAS contributed to Security Council

resolutions and reports of the Secretary-General

to call attention to the impact of unsecured

ammunition, ERW and stockpiled weapons,

including SALW and chemical weapons.

• UNMAS initiated a weapons survey to fully

establish the scope of the problem and inform

plans for disarmament.

• Over 173,000 ERW were cleared and destroyed

across Libya in 2012, freeing essential

infrastructure and economically viable land while

enabling Libyan communities to resume their

lives. Numerous homes and schools were made

safe. Through coordination with UNICEF, more

than 115,000 Libyans received risk education to

avoid explosive items.

Funding

• Regular Budget – US $1 million

• VTF – US $5 million

• Donors – Australia; Austria; Brazil; Canada;

Estonia; Italy; Republic of Korea; Luxembourg;

Netherlands; Switzerland; United Kingdom5

5 Contributions from both Australia and Republic of Korea were applied in 2012, and already accounted for in the 2011 report.

19

Palestine

In Palestine, ERW affects both Gaza and the West

Bank. People in the West Bank must also contend

with living in a land restricted by 89 minefields.

These minefields are located mostly in fertile,

agricultural and grazing lands. In addition to posing

a risk to the lives and limbs of the population

– particularly children, farmers, shepherds and

Bedouins – the contamination undermines socio-

economic development and livelihoods of Palestinian

communities. UNMAS is working closely with the

Palestinian Authority to strengthen national capacity

to coordinate and manage mine action activities.

In the Gaza Strip, UNMAS contributes to the

protection of civilians and the safe delivery of

humanitarian assistance. It is estimated that over

290 houses and some 100 governmental structures,

were destroyed or sustained major damage during

the November 2012 escalation of hostilities between

armed groups and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF).

The number of civilian victims rose by 40 per cent

between January and November.

• In West Bank, UNMAS supported the Palestinian

Authority to establish the Palestinian Mine Action

Centre (PMAC) within the Ministry of Interior

in Ramallah. PMAC coordinates mine action

activities in the West Bank. A full-time technical

advisor has been deployed to provide guidance,

training and mentoring to PMAC employees.

• The PMAC has, with UNMAS technical support,

established itself as a credible mine action

national entity in full compliance with IMAS and

developed a concept of operations to clear 16

minefields in central West Bank. This plan was

endorsed by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs

in December 20126.

6 The start of demining operations in the West Bank is scheduled for the second half of 2013. The 16 minefields to be demined in a first phase are located in ”the hills” of the West Bank, on privately owned land in the governorates of Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqiliya, Bethlehem and Hebron. These minefields, which are no longer deemed operational by the IDF, were laid by Jordan in the 1960s and are considered by the IDF as “Area C” which under the terms of the Oslo Accords is – until final status agreement is reached – under the administration and se-curity control of Israel.

20

• In Gaza Strip, UNMAS assisted Palestinians, UN

Agencies and NGOs in Gaza and coordinated

mine action work. Risk education, technical

advice and risk assessments were ongoing and

increased following the fighting in November.

UNMAS facilitated the delivery of humanitarian

and rehabilitation projects.

• UNMAS was able to immediately respond to the

November 2012 escalation of conflict in the Gaza

Strip, with emergency ERW risk assessments of all

damaged and destroyed key infrastructures, with

EOD technical advice as well as risk awareness

campaigns.

• UNMAS launched risk awareness campaigns

through TV and radio messages and distributed

thousands of leaflets to all communities

potentially at risk.

• UNMAS, together with partners, delivered

170 ERW risk awareness sessions to over

2,970 individuals as well as community-based

organizations, NGOs and UN agencies.

Funding

• VTF – US $773,680

• Donors – Belgium; CERF; Germany7; Netherlands;

New Zealand7; Spain

• In-kind contribution – SIDA/MSB

7 Contributions from both Germany and New Zealand were applied in 2012 and were already accounted for in the 2011 report.

21

Somalia

Armed conflict with Ethiopia and two decades of civil

war have littered Somalia with landmines, ERW, and

unsecured stockpiles of weapons and ammunition.

According to reports received by the United Nations,

new mines were layed as recently as 2012 in south-

central Somalia in the disputed Sool and Sanaag

regions. The use of IEDs by armed groups has

compounded the threats facing peacekeepers and aid

organizations.

UNMAS Somalia is the largest and most diverse

UNMAS programme in the world. Mandated by

Security Council resolutions 1863 (2009) and 2036

(2012), UNMAS provides essential coordination,

capacity building and explosive management support

to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),

the Somali Security Sector and humanitarian

organizations.

UNMAS teams are deployed in eight regions of

south-central Somalia, Somaliland and Puntland and

are implementing large-scale clearance and mine risk

education programmes. In 2012, UNMAS expanded

life-saving services into newly accessible areas

throughout south-central Somalia. UNMAS also

operates the EOD Coordination Centre (EODCC).

• UNMAS continued EOD and counter-IED training

and mentorship for AMISOM and Somali security

sector personnel. The national Police in Mogadishu

were able to systematically respond to explosive

threat callouts for the first time, identifying and

securing over 1,300 items, including over 100

IEDs.

• EOD/C-IED mobility interventions enabled

AMISOM operations with Somali National Forces

to expand into newly accessible areas in south-

central Somalia including Afgoye, Baidoa and

Beletweyne.

• UNMAS awareness raising messages reached

over 200,000 people, enabling communities to

live in greater safety.

• UNMAS supported an area reduction initiative

together with the HALO Trust and the Somaliland

Mine Action Center. Over 13 square kilometres

of previously suspected hazardous areas were

officially confirmed to have no mine or ERW

contamination in Somaliland.

• More than 20,000 items of UXO were safely

destroyed.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $32.3 million

• VTF – US $12 million

• Donors – Austria; European Union; Italy; Japan;

United Kingdom

22

South Sudan

After 50 years of civil war and the six-year

Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)

implementation period, the Republic of South Sudan

gained independence in July 2011. The pervasive use

of landmines throughout the conflict meant that

years after the peace agreement was signed, mines

and ERW continue to impact communities across

the country. In 2012, military clashes between the

armed forces of Sudan and South Sudan significantly

increased the threat posed by landmines and ERW to

civilians and humanitarian aid workers, especially in

the northern bordering states. The socio-economic

cost of landmines and ERW in terms of inhibition

of agricultural production, food security, economic

activities, and freedom of movement is incalculable.

UNMAS was mandated by Security Council

resolutions 1996 (2011) and 2057 (2012), to oversee

and coordinate all mine action operations in the

country in support of the UN Mission in South Sudan

(UNMISS). UNMAS oversees and coordinates large-

scale clearance operations to restore freedom of

movement, facilitate the safe return of refugees

and IDPs and ensure the delivery of humanitarian

assistance. UNMAS also provides technical and

logistical support to disarmament, demobilization and

reintegration and security sector reform components

of UNMISS and provides EOD training to the national

police service.

• UNMAS released more than 900 square kilometres

of land - almost three times the size of Malta -

for agricultural development and infrastructure

reconstruction.

• With funding from ECHO, UNMAS deployed a

dedicated road clearance capacity in the northern

border states of Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei and

Warrap. Additional teams worked in the northern

areas and, to date, over 20,900 kilometres of

roads have been opened for access.

• Over 280,000 individuals benefited from

community-based mine risk education.

• Socio-economic reintegration projects have

enhanced living standards of mine and ERW

survivors and their families. Over 3,180 landmine

survivors and persons with disabilities have

received victim assistance interventions,

approximately 1,800 of which were supported

with assistive devices.

• In 2012, UNMAS continued to work with the

National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) to

strengthen national capacity through technical

support and on-the-job training. UNMAS

facilitated the development of the National Mine

Action Strategic Plan for 2012-2016, and supported

the construction of the Juba Head Office as well

as the Wau Office, which coordinates mine action

operations at the regional level.

• The univerzalisation of key instruments related to

mine action is an integral component of UNMAS

support to the Government of South Sudan, under

the umbrella of the South Sudan Mine Action

Programme Transition Plan. UNMAS assisted the

NMAA in drafting its first Transparency Report for

the Ottawa Treaty in preparation for the Twelfth

Meeting of State Parties in December 2012.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $37.2 million

• VTF – US $2.2 million

• Donor – EU

23

Sudan, Republic of

While Sudan is reaching the end of its first ten years

since becoming a state party to the APMBT, landmines

and ERW continue to cause human suffering. In June

2011, a new outbreak of fighting in South Kordofan and

Blue Nile states resulted in additional contamination.

More than 300,000 people were displaced and the

number of mines and ERW victims continues to

increase. There remains an urgent need for mine

action intervention to provide safety and freedom of

movement for IDPs, UN agencies, NGOs and, most

notably, the local population.

The UN Mine Action Office (UNMAO) was established

in March 2005 as an integral component of the United

Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to coordinate,

facilitate and oversee quality assurance for all mine

action activities in Sudan, support UNMIS and help

strengthen national capacity. After the conclusion

of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in

2005 and the closure of UNMIS in 2011, UNMAS

was one of the few UN organizations requested by

the Government to remain in country with the aim

of strengthening the capacity of the National Mine

Action Center (NMAC) and provide technical advice

on coordination for the effective implementation of

the Sudan Mine Action Programme.

• UNMAS continued to work with the National Mine

Action Center to strengthen national capacity

through technical advice and training.

• Over 530 landmines and 2,850 ERW were

removed.

• Over 194,900 individuals received community-

based mine risk education.

• To date, 88 per cent of identified potential hazards

have been cleared.

Funding

• VTF – US $4.3 million

• Donors – Common Humanitarian Fund Sudan;

Japan; United Kingdom

24

Western Sahara, Territory of

Both sides of the 2,700 kilometres along the earthen

berm which divides the Territory of Western Sahara

remain contaminated with landmines and ERW as

a result of 16 years of fighting between the Royal

Moroccan Army (RMA) and the Frente POLISARIO.

These explosive items continue to endanger the lives

and limbs of UN Military Observers monitoring the

ceasefire, along with those of refugees and Saharan

nomads. Contamination hinders the repatriation of

an estimated 165,000 Saharan refugees and IDPs, as

well as the safe pursuit of livelihood opportunities.

In 2008, a dangerous area survey completed in five

locations by UNMAS implementing partner Action

on Armed Violence suggested that the Territory of

Western Sahara could be one of the most heavily

affected territories in the world8.

Security Council resolution 690 (1991) mandated

the establishment of the United Nations Mission for

the Referendum in the Territory of Western Sahara

(MINURSO). UNMAS established the Mine Action

Coordination Centre (MACC) in 2008 in support of

MINURSO. UNMAS EOD and mine risk education

teams work to protect nomadic population from

the threat of explosive items. UNMAS supports the

MINURSO mandate to the east of the berm and

engages the RMA to clear remaining landmines and

ERW to the west of the berm.

• More than 3.5 million square metres of land have

been released for productive use.

• Over 710 cluster munitions, 4,100 landmines,

and 3,200 UXO have been destroyed, saving

lives and increasing freedom of movement for UN

personnel and the local population.

• Over 240 UN military and civilian personnel have

benefited from mine and ERW safety briefings.

• On behalf of the Spanish Agency for International

Cooperation and Development, UNMAS initiated

8 Dangerous Area Survey: Western Sahara; A Survey or Dangerous Areas and Items in POLISARIO-controlled Western Sahara.

an extensive risk education campaign targeting

the refugee camps and, for the first time, the

nomadic tribes.

• By 2012, the cluster munitions threat east of the

berm was reduced by 85 per cent. Now that less

than 20 cluster strike areas remain to be cleared,

the focus will shift to clearance of the 38 known

minefields to the east of the berm.

Funding

• Assessed Budget – US $2.6 million

• VTF – US $259,388

• Donor – Spain

25

B. Strengthening the United Na-tions System

UNMAS continued to coordinate United Nations

efforts to improve strategic planning, develop policies,

and set industry standards for the mine action

community. UNMAS highlighted the importance of

results-based programming and of strengthening

monitoring and evaluation capacity.

1. Supporting coordination frameworks

United Nations Inter-agency coordination

Inter-Agency Coordination Group for Mine Action

(IACG-MA) – As UN focal point on mine action,

UNMAS puts a premium on strengthening inter-

agency coherence under a “One UN” approach.

UNMAS leads the IACG-MA through monthly

meetings to coordinate major institutional activities

related to mine action, to monitor threats and

to enhance transparency and strategic planning

amongst United Nations partners and the mine

action community. Through the IACG-MA, UNMAS

coordinates and delivers key United Nations positions

and messaging at major treaty-related international

meetings and conferences (See p.27).

• In 2012, UNMAS led the development of the

Strategy of the UN on Mine Action 2013-2018.

The Strategy is the product of an inclusive

consultative process led by UNMAS and involving

all UN partners together with affected and donor

countries, and other stakeholders including the

ICRC and non-governmental organizations. (See

Box p.25)

Global Protection Cluster (GPC)9 Mine Action Area of

Responsibility (MA-AoR) – UNMAS coordinates the

GPC MA-AoR to ensure the full integration of mine

action in the overall United Nations humanitarian

response.

9 The Global Protection Cluster is coordinated by the UNHCR and comprises four areas of responsibilities, namely Child Protection; Gen-der-based Violence; Housing; Land and Property; and Mine Action.

• At the global level, UNMAS raised the relevance of

mine action in humanitarian coordination efforts

through its active participation in the Protection

Cluster. UNMAS enhanced the visibility of the

MA-AoR, including through the development of

the mine action webpage embedded in the newly

created GPC website10.

• To enhance coherence and accountability among

mine action operators at the field level, UNMAS

supported the establishment of mine action sub-

cluster groups under the field protection cluster.

Coordinating Action in Small Arms network (CASA) –

UNMAS contributes to meetings of CASA chaired by

the Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). UNMAS

field experiences have been featured in the report of

the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on

Small Arms. UNMAS is the operational implementing

partner for UNODA and the technical expert for the

jointly developed International Ammunition Technical

Guidelines.

• In 2012, UNMAS provided expert advice to the

CASA Strategic Framework 2013-2018. In the run-

up to the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) conference

in July 2012, UNMAS contributed to the United

Nations position on the impact of unregulated

arms transfers, expanding on the dangers of poorly

managed ammunition stockpiles and storage

areas. United Nations advocacy maintained the

momentum leading to the adoption of the ATT in

2013.

10 www.globalprotectioncluster.org

26

The Strategy of the UN on Mine Action 2013-2018

UNMAS led the development of the Strategy of

the United Nations on Mine Action 2013-2018.

The Strategy presents the common objectives and

commitments that will guide the work of the United

Nations in mine action over the next six years.

The Strategy reaffirms the contribution of mine

action to the full range of UN work in peace and

security, human rights, humanitarian affairs and

development. The Strategy also recognizes that

mine action must evolve to respond to the needs

of populations increasingly exposed to all types

of explosive hazards.

The Strategy contains four strategic objectives

focused on:

Saving lives through reducing the risk to

individuals and communities as well as the

negative impact on socio-economic recovery

Promoting victim assistance, taking into account

links to healthcare and disability agendas

Promoting national ownership through the

accelerated transfer of mine action responsibilities

Mainstreaming mine action in international and

national agendas

The Strategy highlights monitoring and evaluation,

and directs the UN to strengthen reporting,

transparency and accountability. UNMAS is

committed to lead UN efforts to establish a

monitoring and evaluation mechanism. We

are already consolidating our own monitoring

and evaluation frameworks and tools both at

headquarters and field level.

The Strategy of the United Nations on Mine

Action 2013-2018 is accessible on http://www.

mineaction.org/

Coordination with other mine action stakeholders

Affected states, donors, non-governmental

organizations and commercial contractors are key

stakeholders in the international effort to address and

eradicate the global mine and ERW problem. As such,

UNMAS strives to bring the mine action community

together through dialogue and partnerships.

Annual Meeting of the Mine Action Sector – To

build consensus, share good practices and explore

partnerships, UNMAS and UN partners organize

the annual International Meeting of National Mine

Action Directors and UN Advisors in partnership with

the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian

Demining (GICHD). This major gathering is an

opportunity for all mine action stakeholders to

assess progress achieved and future challenges.

Multiple side-events provide a platform for national

directors and United Nations partners to showcase

their activities to donors and reach out to the mine

action community.

• UNMAS led the organization of the 15th

International Meeting of National Mine Action

Directors and UN Advisors (Geneva, 26-30

March 2012) bringing together more than 360

participants from the mine action community.

Attention was focused on requirements for

improving operational effectiveness, transition

and exit strategies and resource mobilization for

the mine action sector.

Mine Action Support Group (MASG) – UNMAS works

closely with the MASG, a forum of donors committed

to providing financial, political and technical support

to UN mine action, to identify common priorities for

support.

• UNMAS provided the Australian Chair of the

Mine Action Support Group (MASG) with

secretariat support and substantive advice on its

work to enhance donor coordination in support

of the United Nations Completion Initiative.

27

This initiative will enhance the role of the MASG

in countries that are nearing completion but

require assistance to fulfill their mine clearance

obligations. UNMAS fed into MASG studies on

“Mine Action Coordination and Partnerships”

and “Completion Initiative: a Business Case”,

highlighting the importance of United Nations

coordination efforts with the donor community.

UNMAS pays tribute to the Australian Chair for

their work to strengthen coordination of mine

action donors.

• The annual MASG meeting was held in September

in New York, with representatives from over

20 donor governments sharing information

on current funding and future plans. UNMAS,

together with UN partners, provided an update

on major activities in 2012 and priorities for 2013.

The UNMAS Libya programme was featured as

an outstanding model of effective mine action

emergency response and coordination.

Coordination with NGO partners and other

stakeholders – Significant progress has been made in

enhancing dialogue and deepening relationships with

NGO partners and civil society. UNMAS chairs and

actively participates in meetings of the Committee

on Mine Action (CMA), and established the UN-

NGO Forum in 2011 to further improve collaboration

on strategic issues.

• UNMAS continued to chair the CMA to discuss

issues of common concern such as coordination

to enhance operational effectiveness, UN mine

action exit strategies and gender mainstreaming.

• UNMAS continued to co-convene the UN NGO

Forum on the margins of international meetings.

The Forum continues to be a useful medium to

ensure transparency and improve communication

for enhanced cooperation and collaboration

on strategic issues. UNMAS expresses its

appreciation to Norwegian People’s Aid and the

International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster

Munitions Coalition for their consistent support.

• Both fora proved instrumental as key networks for

consultations undertaken for the development of

the new United Nations Strategy and the planned

establishment of a UN monitoring and evaluation

mechanism.

28

2. Developing policy

UNMAS ensures that mine action efforts are efficient,

safe, reliable and of good quality. By developing and

ensuring implementation of policy, standards and

good practices, UNMAS supports the strengthening

of capacity sector wide.

International Mine Action Standards

As chair of the IMAS steering committee and

review board, UNMAS leads the development of the

International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). IMAS

allow mine action operators to reduce costs and

increase safety and productivity. These standards

govern all United Nations mine action operations,

and the United Nations only engages contractors

that comply with them. When supporting national

programmes, UNMAS assists governments in

developing national standards and legislation based

on IMAS.

• In 2012, UNMAS supported the revision of

the land release IMAS and IMAS review of the

International Ammunition Technical Guidelines

(IATGs).

Gender and Mine Action

UNMAS works to empower women and girls by

incorporating gender concerns in mine action.

UNMAS has developed the revised Gender Guidelines

for Mine Action Programmes at the global and field

levels. Gender is also used as an indicator throughout

the the Strategy of the UN on Mine Action 2013-2018.

• In 2012, UNMAS and United Nations partners

supported a number of events on gender in mine

action organized during mine action-treaty related

meetings, including the side event “Does gender

in mine action make a difference”, in partnership

with Gender in Mine Action Programme (GMAP),

during the 3rd Meeting of States Parties to the

CCM (11-14 September).

• UNMAS mainstreams gender in its programmes

focusing on the collection of mine action data

disaggregated by gender and age, and adherence

to gender requirements in UN contracting

procedures and fund allocation. An increasing

number of UNMAS projects submitted to the

Consolidated Appeal Process are taking into

account gender considerations.

Ammunition Safety Management

Poorly managed weapons and ammunition stockpiles

threaten public safety and pose a risk to the security

of states. Building on its expertise, UNMAS was

instrumental in the development in 2011 of the

International Ammunition Technical Guidelines

(IATG), the UN standard for ammunition safety

management aimed at securing weapons and

ammunition storage and managing stockpiles.

• UNMAS was increasingly required to address

security and humanitarian hazards posed by

unsafe and unsecured arms and ammunition

stockpiles, most notably in Côte d’Ivoire, the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya and

Somalia.

For more information on the IATG: www.un.org/

disarmament/convarms/Ammunition/IATG/

Improvised Explosive Devices

The threat of IEDs has increased in many areas where

the United Nations has operations. The versatility,

adaptability and method of employment make IEDs

a uniquely dangerous weapons system. From Somalia

to Syria and Afghanistan, the United Nations has

been affected by IEDs resulting in devastating loss of

human life. UNMAS is ideally placed to assist states

in the removal and destruction of remnant IEDs, IED

awareness, recognition and reporting education,

as well as capacity development on counter-IED

measures. UNMAS provides emergency response

when IEDs threaten public safety and state security

29

forces. UNMAS has created a “Pool of Experts” of

IED disposal-qualified officers with experience in

training, detection, and destruction of IEDs.

• In 2012, UNMAS provided expertise for the

development of the IED chapter of the UN Security

Policy Manual. Efforts are currently underway

with UN Department of Safety and Security

(UNDSS) to develop accompanying guidelines for

policy implementation.

• UNMAS strengthened the capacity of

peacekeeping contingents to mitigate the threat

of IEDs. In Somalia, UNMAS pioneered training

and mentoring on IED Disposal (IEDD) for the

Ugandan and Burundian contingents of AMISOM.

In Syria, UNMAS provided risk awareness and

safety training to over 400 UN military observers

and UN civilian staff.

Portfolio of Mine Action Projects

Each year, UNMAS manages the elaboration

and publication of the Portfolio of Mine Action

Projects (the Portfolio) in partnership with national

authorities, UN entities, NGOs and other actors at the

local, national and international levels. The Portfolio

of Mine Action Projects provides an overview of

how affected countries plan to address their mines

and ERW problem. The Portfolio is also an important

resource mobilization tool that provides visibility for

smaller programmes and builds local capacities for

proposal writing, budget development and strategic

planning.

• The 2013 Portfolio contained 220 projects from

over 25 affected countries, territories or missions,

with a total budget of US $361 million.

The Portfolio is available and fully searchable on

www.mineaction.org

30

C. Supporting Integration of Mine Action into Global Frame-works

Whether UNMAS is integrating mine action into

broader United Nations frameworks, mobilizing

Member States to support international agreements,

or raising public awareness, UNMAS is committed

to maintaining mine action high on the world list of

priorities.

1. Mine action at the United Nations

UNMAS works to deepen integration of mine action

within UN peacekeeping, humanitarian, development

and human rights frameworks. As evidenced

by explicit reference to mine action in mission

mandates, mine action remains a critical component

of peacekeeping and special political missions.

• UNMAS contributed to reports and

recommendations of the Secretary-General on

the protection of civilians, the use of explosive

weapons on populated areas, children and armed

conflict, and women, peace and security.

• Mine action components were integrated into 11

peacekeeping missions and two special political

missions11.

• The impact of mine action in all its aspects

continued to feature prominently in the work of

the Security Council, the Human Rights Council

and the General Assembly.

11 The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sa-hara (MINURSO), the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA, established on 25 April 2013), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the African Union-United Na-tions Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the United Nations Peacekeep-ing Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS, closed on 9 July 2011), the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL, established on 16 September 2011), the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA).

• UNMAS assisted the African Union (AU) in

developing a three-year plan (2013-2015) to

galvanize support for a Landmine Free Africa.

Recognizing that mine action is a growing

component of AU peacekeeping and humanitarian

efforts12, UNMAS looks forward to further

strengthening its cooperation with the AU.

2. Mine action in international norms

UNMAS coordinates United Nations advocacy efforts

for the universal adoption and implementation

of international instruments aimed at protecting

civilians from the threat of landmines and ERW.

These include the Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty

(APMBT), the Convention on Certain Conventional

Weapons (CCW) and its amended Protocol II on

mines, booby traps and other devices (APII), and

Protocol V on ERW, the Convention on Cluster

Munitions (CCM) and the Convention on the Rights

of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBT)

Despite the progress made towards a mine-free

world envisaged by the APMBT, a significant number

of mine-affected States Parties is still missing the

ten-year deadline for clearance and relying on

extension requests. In 2012, UNMAS coordinated

United Nations participation in the meetings of the

standing committees (Geneva, 21-25 May 2012), as

well as the 12th Meeting of State Parties (12MSP;

Geneva, 3-7 December 2012). The 12MSP considered

progress made and remaining challenges in the

implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan (2011-

2014) and extended Article 5 deadlines for the

clearance and destruction of anti-personnel mines

for Afghanistan, Angola, Cyprus and Zimbabwe.

12 The African Union Council of Ministers adopted resolution CM/Res.1593 on the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Pursuant to this resolution, the OAU/AU convened three Continental Conferences of African Experts in May 1997, September 2004 and September 2009, which resulted in an African Common Position on Anti-personnel Landmines.

31

• UNMAS coordinated and delivered seven United

Nations statements, contributed to the UN

message of the Secretary-General and organized

two side event: “Fresh from the Field: Afghanistan

Mine Free 2023 and UNMAS Rapid Response in

Goma, Gaza, Mali and Syria”.

• UNMAS support represents a key element

to ensure that mine-affected countries make

progress in the implementation of the APMBT.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the case

of Afghanistan, where UNMAS contributed to

the preparation and submission of an Article 5

extension request regarded by many State Parties

as exemplary.

• UNMAS advocacy and technical support also

facilitated the accession of Somalia to the APMBT

in October 2012, as well as the participation of

Palestine in the 12th Meeting of State Parties, for

the first time ever as an Observer State.

• In line with the MASG support to the “Completion

Initiative” and with funding from Australia,

UNMAS provided critical support for Uganda to

be able to declare itself in compliance with its

APMBT obligations in December 2012.

• With funding from the Government of Italy,

UNMAS supported advocacy and public

awareness activities of the Italian Campaign

to Ban Landmines. UNMAS also supported the

International Campaign to Ban Landmines -

Cluster Munition Coalition advocacy towards

the implementation and universalization of the

APMBT and the CCM.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

The CCM and its Associated Protocol II (APII) and

Protocol V on ERW are increasingly considered to

address the humanitarian impact caused by the

use or abandonment of explosive ordnance during

armed conflict, regardless of the specific category

of weapon. In 2012, UNMAS coordinated United

Nations participation in meetings of governmental

experts of the High Contracting Parties to APII and

Protocol V (Geneva, 23-27 April), the CCW Open-

ended Expert Meeting on Mines Other Than Anti-

Personnel Mines (MOTAPM) (Geneva, 2-4 April

2012), the 6th Conference for Protocol V (Geneva,

12-13 November), as well as at the 2012 Meeting of

States Parties (Geneva, 15-16 November).

• UNMAS provided expert advice and substantial

input to meetings of governmental experts of the

High Contracting Parties to APII and Protocol V

(Geneva, 23-27 April) and the 6th Conference

for Protocol V (Geneva, 12-13 November) to

foster substantial dialogue on the humanitarian

impact of IEDs, as well as unsecured ammunition

stockpiles. On both occasions, UNMAS delivered

statements highlighting its IED related expertise

and on going initiatives, as well as reaffirming

its role as lead agency on counter-IED training,

clearance and disposal.

• At the 6th Conference for Protocol V (Geneva,

12-13 November), UNMAS highlighted the

importance of ensuring that parties to a

conflict take all necessary measures to record

and maintain information on the use and

abandonment of explosive ordnance, and submit

this information to mine action operators in order

to protect civilians, as required by Article 4 of

the Protocol. The International Committee of the

Red Cross organized a workshop on Article 4 in

which UNMAS highlighted its experience in Libya

on the reception of information regarding use and

abandonment of explosive ordnance.

• In line with statements by the Secretary-General

on anti-vehicle mines, UNMAS and United Nations

partners called again in 2012 for the revision of

existing rules applicable to MOTAPM. During the

CCW Open-ended Expert Meeting on MOTAPM

(Geneva, 2-4 April 2012) and at the 2012 Meeting

of States Parties (Geneva, 15-16 November),

UNMAS worked closely with Ireland, as Friend of

the Chair, to highlight the humanitarian impact

32

of these weapons in Afghanistan and South

Sudan. UNMAS was also called upon to provide a

technical expertise on IED clearance, removal and

disposal in recognition of its emerging leading

expertise.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM)

UNMAS continued to support the universal accession

and implementation of the CCM both through its

advocacy efforts and advisory support to national

authorities. The 3rd Meeting of States Parties to the

Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo, Norway (11

to 14 September 2012) discussed the establishment

of an Implementing Support Unit (ISU) to present

funding model proposals to States Parties.

• UNMAS coordinated the delivery of nine IACG-

MA thematic statements during both meetings,

as well as IACG-MA inputs to the message of the

Secretary-General to the 3rd Meeting of States

Parties (Oslo, 11-14 September).

• In line with the Secretary-General’s message

on the use of explosive weapons in populated

areas, UNMAS promoted the integration of victim

assistance into broader frameworks and universal

accession to the CRPD; the use of age and gender

disaggregated data and the inclusion of victims

of cluster munitions in legal frameworks. UNMAS

and UN partners co-sponsored with the NGO

Gender in Mine Action Programme (GMAP) a

side event on Gender in mine action.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

UNMAS continued to promote the integration of victim

assistance in mine action and broader national health

care and disability frameworks. UNMAS actively

participates in the Inter-Agency on the Convention on

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (IASG-CRPD)

to ensure the needs of mine and ERW victims are

addressed in broader health and disability agendas.

• At the 5th CRPD Conference of State Parties

(COSP), UNMAS continued to advocate for

assistance to landmine victims. UNMAS partners

with international stakeholders (e.g. ICRC, ICBL,

APMBT ISU) to link assistance to landmine victims

to the implementation of the UN Convention on

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

• UNMAS continued to participate in the Inter-

Agency Support Group on the CRPD (IASG-

CRPD). At the 7th meeting of the IASG-CRPD

(New York, 16-17 July), as well as the annual video

conference, UNMAS highlighted its advocacy

efforts on victim assistance and in support of the

CRPD.

• Under the UN Strategy on Mine Action 2013-2018,

one of the four strategic objectives addresses

“victim assistance” with a focus on health and

disability agendas. As one internal commitment,

the Strategy commits the United Nations to

update its 2003 Policy on Victim Assistance in

Mine Action. UNMAS announced that it will lead

the revision of the policy in 2013.

The UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA)

Stockpile management and destruction emerged as

a high priority for the implementation of the United

Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and

Light Weapons (UNPoA) as several member states

called for greater emphasis to be placed on this issue

during the UNPoA 2nd Review Conference (New York,

27 August-7 September).

• UNMAS hosted a side event highlighting its

contribution to the implementation of the UNPoA

through its activities in stockpile management as

well as technical support to DDR operations.

33

D. Communication and Outreach

UNMAS continued to deepen recognition within the

UN system, among donors and Member States, of

its role as the lead UN entity for explosive hazards.

UNMAS stepped up our social media tools to boost

the visibility of mine action with the general public.

• Communication and outreach efforts in 2012 led

to extensive global press coverage, particularly

in the occasion of the annual commemoration of

the International Day for Mine Awareness and

Assistance in Mine Action. In New York, UNMAS,

in partnership with the Australian Permanent

Mission to the UN, organized a photo exhibit

on mine action in Afghanistan, Cambodia and

Libya. The event was heralded as such a success

that the UN Exhibits section recommended the

exhibit travel to Brussels, Belgium for a show

at the National Museum of Military History in

2013. A strategic digital media campaign yielded

impressive results. With support from UN

Secretariat partners, UNDP, UNICEF and many

others, more than 5 million unique followers were

confirmed in just 24 hours.

• UNMAS partnered with Time Magazine

photographer Marco Grob for photo exhibitions

documenting mine action in Afghanistan and

Cambodia.

• UNMAS significantly expanded its social media

advocacy efforts. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and

Google+ pages are now major tools for UNMAS

to engage with a diverse audience, and reach

millions of people worldwide. For example,

UNMAS organized film screenings and advocacy

events in New York and Geneva in support of the

global “Lend Your Leg” campaign which covered

over 70 countries, reached over 5 million unique

followers on Twitter in 24 hours and garnered

over 65,000 views on YouTube.

• UNMAS also stepped up activities on You Tube.

In 2012, UNMAS films on Libya, South Sudan and

the Territory of Western Sahara were viewed by

more than 26,000 on UNMAS You Tube channel.

• UNMAS works closely with the media to develop

news and feature stories, helping to boost

reporting on mine action. Numerous stories

were filed by media outlets such as Al-Jazeera,

BBC, Huffington Post, The Independent (UK), LA

Times, Le Temps, La Republica, People’s Daily

and TIME, to name a few. For example, the BBC

covered the work of UNMAS in Syria, The New

York Times covered the work of UNMAS in Libya

and the Huffington Post covered the new UNMAS

Libya film.

• An essential element of UNMAS communications

continues to be the circulation of electronic “Today

in Mine Action News” updates with highlights

from worldwide media sources on topical mine

action stories.

• UNMAS will overhaul its website in 2013 to

increase the flexibility of the site and strengthen

its interactive content.

34

E. Operating Transparently and Efficiently

UNMAS is committed to meeting the highest

standards of transparency and efficiency in its

administration of public resources. In 2012, UNMAS

continued to strive for better management of financial

resources and improved business processes.

1. Accountability and transparency

Ensuring accountability, transparency and timely

disbursement of its spending is critical to UNMAS.

The UN Controller has delegated certifying authority

to UNMAS resulting in a significant reduction in time

required for allocation and disbursement of funds.

Throughout 2012, UNMAS worked closely with

competent UN Secretariat financial and management

authorities to increase the transparency and

efficiency of the UN Trust Fund for Mine Action,

including through strengthening its disbursement

procedures and business processes.

The UNMAS resource mobilization strategy for 2011-

2013 is closely aligned with operational requirements

in the field and supportive of the aid effectiveness

agenda of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness

and the Accra Agenda for Action principles. The

Strategy focuses on risk management, quality

control, transparent and timely donor reporting and

appropriately conservative resource management. It

responds to donors’ increased focus on results-based

budgeting, measurable results and effective, impact-

based operations. The resource mobilization strategy

is being reviewed for 2014.

UNMAS is engaged in further strengthening

transparency by adhering to regular reporting to

its donors. Donors are provided with financial and

substantive reports as per the funding agreement

in addition to the multi-donor annual reports that

are on the E-MINE website. In 2013, UNMAS will

provide donors with quarterly reports in addition to

its Annual Report.

35

To ensure efficiency and effectiveness in allocating,

monitoring and reporting on financial resources, and

to strengthen oversight and control, UNMAS uses the

ProFi system, a programme and financial management

tool developed in partnership with the UN Office on

Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Following the successful

implementation of core functionalities, UNMAS has

been continuously enhancing the system to ensure

better management of its programmes. Building on its

long-standing efforts to keep administrative cost low,

achieve economies of scale and operate in an efficient

manner, UNMAS has undertaken to formulate and

implement an effective risk management framework

for managing identified financial and operations risks.

An internal initiative called the Recommendations

Tracking Tool in ProFi captures recommendations from

external evaluations as well as internal assessments,

and monitors them through to implementation. The

tool will ensure enhanced programme performance

as well as targeted development of training materials.

In line with the International Aid Transparency

Initiative (IATI), UNMAS is actively promoting

public access to information on its field activities.

Detailed information about the funding and progress

of UNMAS projects implemented in partnership with

UNOPS is available online at www.unops.org.

2. Operational preparedness

Maintaining operational readiness is critical to

emergency response. This means deploying the right

people and equipment in a timely manner. To achieve

this UNMAS partners with the United Nations Office

for Project Services (UNOPS) to provide UNMAS

field operations with ISO 9001 certified transparent,

accountable management services. The effective

and efficient delivery of UNMAS programmes relies

on each entity’s comparative advantage: UNMAS

mandate, political clout and expertise as the lead UN

entity for explosive hazard reduction and support by

UNOPS technical and administrative services.

UNMAS recognizes that recruiting and retaining a

highly qualified workforce in a transparent, efficient

and speedy manner are crucial to be fully prepared to

respond to new or escalating emergencies. UNMAS

has created a global “Pool of Experts” – managed by

UNOPS – that enables on-call rapid deployment of

skilled mine action experts and project managers.

Our professionals offer expertise in every aspect

of explosive hazards management including in

ammunition safety management and IED disposal.

With funding from the Government of Sweden and

in partnership with the Swedish Civil Contingencies

Agency (MSB), UNMAS is able to quickly deploy

EOD Rapid Response Teams, technical advisors,

IMSMA support and mechanical assets in emergency

situations. In 2012, this partnership enabled

emergency response in Abyei, Democratic Republic

of the Congo, Libya, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Republic

of Congo and Syria. This support remains critical for

such timely and effective interventions.

UNMAS continuously strives to enhance the skills

and competencies required to carry out roles and

responsibilities. UNMAS is finalizing an induction

package for new staff and relevant training materials.

Throughout the year, UNMAS implemented a number

of training initiatives for headquarters and field

staff across all aspects of mine action, including:

IED awareness training; first aid, emergency and

paramedic training, Emergency Trauma Bag (ETB)

courses, project management training such as Prince2,

IPDET and UNOPS-developed management courses.

UNMAS supports training and raising awareness to

strengthen system-wide capacity. UNMAS developed

the Landmine Safety Project, a mandatory basic training

delivered by UNDSS for UN field staff. An UNMAS App

for I-Phone and Android will incorporate the Landmine

Safety Project and other relevant reference materials

and will be made available to all UN staff in 2013.

UNMAS is also designing an online diploma course

for mine action practitioners in partnership with the

Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI).

36

F. UNMAS RESOURCES

1. UNMAS funding in 2012

Funding trends for 2012 showed a decline in funding

from voluntary contributions to the VTF. UNMAS

received approximately US $173.6 million from all

funding sources in 2012.

• Voluntary contributions to the United Nations

Trust Fund for Mine Action (VTF) amounted to

approximately US $59.1 million in 2012; a decrease

of 22 per cent from US $75.5 million in 2011.

• Appropriations by the United Nations General

Assembly for mine action from the peacekeeping

and regular budgets amounted to approximately

US $113.5 million; an increase of 24 per cent from

2011 resulting from the increase in new missions.

• At the same time, funding from the Peacekeeping

Support Account to fund headquarter activities

related to mandated missions amounted to

approximately US $970,000 in 2012; a decrease

of 11 per cent from US $1.09 million in 2011.

34.1% Contributions

recieved by the UN Trust Fund for

Mine Action

64.8% Funds appropriated by the UN General Assembly for the mine action component of the peacekeeping budget

0.6% Funds appropriated

by the UN General Assembly for the mine

action component of UN peacekeeping

support account

0.6% Funds appropriated

by the UN General Assembly for mine

action from the Regular Budget

2. UNMAS staffing and funding

UNMAS is staffed with 30 posts out of which 22 are

funded from the VTF and 6 posts (5 professional

post and 1 general service), funded from the General

Assembly appropriations to the United Nations

Peacekeeping Support Account.

This funding trend has compelled UNMAS to become

an expert at doing more with less. It is noteworthy

that staffing levels have remained the same since

2004 despite expansion of services to cover a wider

scope of mandated activities; an increased number of

Member States and United Nations entities requests

for assistance; and the continuous growth in financial

resources under its oversight, such as, in the case of its

peacekeeping budget, a 1,427 per cent increase, from

US $6.2 million in 2002/2003 to US $94.7 million

in 2011/2012. However, this year demonstrates that

this trend is about to become counterproductive. The

exponential growth of requests to lead, coordinate

and implement, including in field operations, is now

overstretching UNMAS efficiency, in particular its

capacity to respond to all demands with continued

high quality service.

In contrast with other United Nations entities which

charge personnel costs as direct charges against

projects, UNMAS staffing cost is charged against the

reduced 3 per cent Programme Support Cost (PSC).13

Furthermore, since most of the 3 per cent PSC is

absorbed by overhead costs for central administration

services provided by the United Nations Secretariat,

UNMAS is left with a few resources to sustain

its workload. UNMAS non-mission activities are

therefore funded almost exclusively from un-

earmarked voluntary contributions which are

extremely limited.

13 The United Nations Secretariat Trust Fund for assistance in Mine Action (VTF), a United Nations inter-agency funding mechanism, benefits from a reduced overhead cost of 3 per cent in contrast to the standard Secretariat overhead costs of 13 per cent, and other en-tities’ 7 per cent or more.

37

Given the current global financial situation and the

current trend of donors providing direct funding to

individual operators, UNMAS could reasonably expect

a decrease in voluntary funding which would result in

a reduction of posts and decreased level of services.

In line with the Strategy of the United Nations on

Mine Action 2013-2018, securing sufficient funding

to maintain quality and efficiency of action, including

increased coordination at headquarter and country-

level, is an UNMAS priority.

3. Good Mine Action Donorship

UNMAS continues to appeal to donors and Member

States for multi-year, flexible and needs-based funding

that will enable it to plan and manage strategically and

ensure a rapid response in emergency settings. This

is why UNMAS encourages donors to provide support

in line with the Principles of Good Humanitarian

Donorship14 - which advocate for flexible, long term

funding arrangements, standardized reporting, and

harmonization of management requirements to

reduce transaction costs and to free up resources

for operational work. UNMAS strongly advocates

and encourages all donors to accept the Annual

Report as the end of year reporting requirement to

ensure a higher degree of accuracy, timeliness, and

transparency in donor reporting.

14 The Principles and Good Practice of Humanitarian Donorship were endorsed in 17 June 2003 by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Den-mark, the European Commission, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Acknowledgements

UNMAS is grateful to the governments

of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland,

Oman, the United Kingdom as well as the

European Union for their multi-year funding

contributions which have allowed UNMAS to

manage its operation in a more predictable,

cost-effective and sustainable way. UNMAS

thanks the governments of Australia, Finland,

Netherlands and the United Kingdom for their

core funding contributions, totaling US $3.3

million in 2012. UNMAS also appreciates

the support of the governments of Andorra,

Denmark, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg,

New Zealand, and Spain for providing flexible

funding totaling US $2.8 million, or 4.8 per cent

of voluntary funds. UNMAS is also thankful

to the governments of Australia, the United

States of America, Sweden, and Switzerland for

their contributions in-kind which have made

it possible for UNMAS to perform effectively

both at headquarters and at country level.

Exploring new partnerships

In a rapidly changing environment, UNMAS

is seeking to build innovative partnerships

with the private sector to attract financial,

technological and logistical resources that

enhance operational capacity. In 2012, UNMAS,

the United Nations Foundation and the United

Nations Fund for International Partnerships

(UNFIP) signed a fiduciary agreement to create

an online donation platform for individuals and

companies to donate funds to UNMAS rapid

reaction capacity. To guarantee that these

partnerships comply with United Nations

rules and regulations, principles, and goals,

UNMAS also developed ethical standards and

screening methods.

3938

ANNEXES

1. Donors to the UN Trust Fund for Mine Action

A total of 26 donor governments, the Common

Humanitarian Fund and the European Union

contributed to the VTF, comparable to the pool of

donors in 2011.

The top five donors contributed 66.7 per cent of all

contributions: the European Union provided US $13.1

million (22.1 percent), Japan US $8.4 million (14.3

per cent), the United Kingdom US $7 million (11.8

percent), Australia US $6.4 million (10.9 per cent),

and the Netherlands US $4.5 million (7.6 per cent).

The top 10 contributors provided US $52.8 million,

representing 89.3 per cent of all VTF resources.

DONOR ADVOCACY AFGHANISTAN COLOMBIA CORE FUNDING

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

FLEXIBLE LEBANON LIBYA MAURITANIA MALI MOZAM-BIQUE

MULTI- COUNTRY / INTER-AGENCY ORGANIZATION

PALESTINE SOMALIA SOUTH SUDAN

STAND-ING MINE ACTION CAPACITY

SUDAN UGANDA WESTERN SAHARA

DONORTOTAL

Andorra 13,158 13,158

Australia 5,133,000 306,630 489,700 489,700 6,419,030

Austria 176,864 52,404 258,340 461,615 949,223

Belgium 322,500 322,500

Brazil 100,000 100,000

Canada 3,094,519 402,779 3,497,298

CHF 400,000 400,000

Colombia 30,000 30,000

Denmark 1,342,955 1,342,955 2,685,910

Estonia 9,970 9,970

EU 1,417,013 9,463,757 2,202,689 13,083,458

Finland 994,720 1,048,080 2,042,800

France 64,715 64,715

Germany 2,471,815 2,471,815

Italy 169,936 653,600 1,505,615 326,800 2,655,951

Japan 4,000,000 500,000 130,300 1,300,000 2,500,000 8,430,300

Korea (Rep. of) 50,000 50,000 100,000

Liechtenstein 54,163 54,163

Lithuania 6,000 6,000

Luxembourg 366,324 366,324 313,992 1,046,640

Netherlands 1,500,000 250,000 500,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 1,500,000 4,500,000

New Zealand 815,000 815,000

Oman 100,000 100,000

Saudi Arabia 100,000 1,000,000 1,100,000

Spain 47,547 58,208 201,180 259,388 566,322

Switzerland 154,975 154,975

United Kingdom 336,500 422,172 2,072,483 1,913,907 501,671 336,500 1,419,975 7,003,208

United States 500,000 500,000

Grand Total 169,936 21,876,985 280,000 2,276,882 1,116,324 2,769,446 1,102,404 5,068,154 58,208 64,715 489,700 1,913,907 773,680 12,053,843 2,202,689 1,836,500 4,319,975 489,700 259,388 59,122,436

40

Income received

Funds appropriated by the UN General Assembly for the mine action component of the peacekeeping

budget

$112,480,161.00

Voluntary contributions and funds received under inter-organizational arrangements $59,122,434.81

Funds appropriated by the UN General Assembly for the mine action component of the UN

Peacekeeping Support Account

$970,635.50

Funds appropriated by the UN General Assembly for mine action from the Regular Budget $1,044,109.00

Total $173,617,340.31

Provisional expenditures

Funds appropriated by the UN General Assembly for the mine action component of the peacekeeping

budget

76,907,622.05

Voluntary contributions and funds received under inter-organizational arrangements 66,584,664.24

Funds appropriated by the UN General Assembly for the mine action component of the Peacekeeping

Support Account

680,618.13

Funds appropriated by the UN General Assembly for mine action from the Regular Budget 1,035,849.48

Total 145,208,753.90

2. Financial Performance Overview

UNMAS Core Activities in New York and Geneva

The costs of UNMAS coordination at headquarters

were partially covered by the UN Trust Fund for Mine

Action15 in the amount of US $3.9 million in 2012,

compared to US $4.3 million in 2011.

15 The Peacekeeping Support Account allocated US $970,636 in 2012 to cover the costs of five professional posts and 1 General Service staff to manage and oversee operational mine action activi-ties carried out within the mandates of peacekeeping missions and support offices.

41

1. UNMAS Core Activities in New York and Geneva

Income 3,188,661

Expenditure

O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i mp l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Personnel • 2,359,707 2,359,707

Official travel of staff 1,675 219,819 221,494

Consultants and expert groups • 24,745 24,745

Communications • 12,186 12,186

Supplies, materials and furniture • 22,194 22,194

Supplementary conference services • 1,528 1,528

Contractual services* 98,774 313,692 412,466

Operating expenses

(e.g., utilities and rental of equipment)

• 11,630 11,630

Premises • 414,000 414,000

S u b-To t a l 1 00 ,4 4 9 3 , 3 7 9 , 502 3 ,47 9, 952

Programme Support Costs • 413,210 413,210

Total (US$) 100,449 3,792,713 3,893,162*(including UNMAS project finance system development, and support and printing services)

Thematic Projects, Joint Initiatives and Support to Implementing Partners

Expenditures for UNMAS thematic projects reached US

$1.9 million, compared to US $3 million in 2011, while

those for joint projects with UNDP and UNICEF totaled

US $4 million, compared to US $4.6 million in 2011.

2. UNMAS Thematic Projects

Income [From Voluntary Trust Fund] 2,074,057

Expenditure O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i mp l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Project

Advocacy • 534,011 534,011

Standing Mine Action Capacity and Rapid

Response Plan

52,940 1,294,643 1,347,583

Geneva International Centre for

Humanitarian Demining evaluation of the

International Mine Action Standards

• 65,000 65,000

Total (US$) 52,940 1,893,654 1,946,594

42

3. UNMAS Joint Projects with United Nations Partners

C o u nt r y/ t e r r i t o r y/ p r o jec t a c t iv i t i e s O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i mp l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

EgyptIncome • • •

Expenditure • • •

Support to the ongoing operations of the

Executive Secretariat for Mine Clearance 1,390 • 1 , 3 90

U N DP Compl e t i on I n it i at iv e

Income • • 852,325

Expenditure 1,592,327 18,574 1 ,61 0 , 901

R i s k edu cat i on , v i c t i m a ssi s t a n ce a n d a dv oca c y i n s up por t o f t h e U N IC E F L a n d m i n es a n d S m a l l A r m s Tea m

Income • • 1,061,582

Expenditure • • •

Mine risk education, victim assistance

and advocacy in support of the UNICEF

Landmines and Small Arms Team 1,220,632 783,254 2 ,003 , 8 86

Country/territory/project activities Outstanding advances to

implementing partners as

of 31 December 2012

Expenditure for the period

1 January 2012 to 31

December 2012

•

Guinea-BissauIncome • • •

Expenditure • • •

Guinea-Bissau clearance & mine risk

education 137,576 1,530 1 3 9 , 1 0 7

Taj i k i s t a n

Income • • •

Expenditure • • •

Coordination • 155,329 1 5 5 , 3 2 9

L a os P DR

Income • • •

Expenditure • • •

Coordination and clearance

support to UXO Lao 43,942 • 4 3 , 9 4 2

Total (US$) 2,995,867 958,688 3,954,555

43

4. UNMAS Support to Other Implementing Partners

P r o jec t / i mp l e m e n t i n g p a r t n e r/

c o u nt r y/ t e r r i t o r y

O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

MauritaniaIncome • • 58,208

Expenditure • •

Capacity Development 58,208 5 8 , 20 8

Uganda

Income • • •

Expenditure • • •

Capacity Enhancement Project on the

National Demining Operations

•

489,700 4 8 9,7 00

Total (US$) • 547,908 547,908

Field Programmes 16

Abyei Area (South Sudan)

Appropriations under the mine action component

of the UNISFA peacekeeping budget totaled US

$14,505,082 in 2012. The UNISFA budget covered

support for coordination and operations, including

mine detection, ERW clearance and survey activities.

Abyei Area

IncomeF r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed B u d g e t

Coordination 2,248,288

Operation 12,256,794

Total (US$) 14,505,082

ExpenditureF r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Coordination • 1,367,656 1,367,656

Operation • 7,455,933 7,455,933

Total (US$) • 8,823,589 8,823,589

15 Amounts accounted under the UN Peacekeeping Assessed Budget are averages, spread over two years, as the peacekeeping budget runs from 1 July to 30 June. As such, expenditures are also averaged over two years, and do not fully show amounts spent per budget cycle.

44

Afghanistan

The UNMAS programme in Afghanistan is fully funded

from the VTF and has no core resources. UNMAS

donors contributed US $21,876,985 in 2012. The top

five donors were Australia (23.46 per cent), Japan

(18.28 per cent), Canada (14.15 per cent), Germany

Afghanistan

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 2 1 , 8 7 6 , 9 8 5

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Coordination and capacity development 392,896 13,308,421 13,701,317

Landmine and ERW survey clearance 3,553,320 18,620,013 22,173,333

Mine risk education and victim assistance • 911,953 911,953

Victim assistance • 1,141,322 1,141,322

Total (US$) 3,946,215 33,981,710 37,927,925

(11.30 per cent), and the Netherlands (6.86 per cent).

Contributions supported coordination and capacity

development, survey, clearance, risk education and

victim assistance.

Chad

The UNMAS programme in Chad is facing an acute

funding shortage and activities have been suspended

pending additional funds. Nevertheless, support

from the Government of Japan enabled the purchase

of an Armtrac 100 mechanical demining vehicle. A

clearance operation was initiated in Tibesti with

a previous contribution of EUR 2 million from the

European Union.

Chad

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Clearance 1,042,484 • 1,042,484

Total (US$) 1,042,484 • 1,042,484

45

Colombia

The UNMAS programme in Colombia received financial

support from the Government of the Netherlands of

US $250,000 and US $30,000 from the Government

of Colombia for its operational transition to integrate

civilian humanitarian demining organizations into the

national mine action framework.

Colombia

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 2 8 0 , 0 0 0

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Mine Clearance 57,086 419,238 476,324

Total (US$) 57,086 419,238 476,324

Côte d’Ivoire

Appropriations under the mine action component

of the UNOCI peacekeeping budget totaled US

$6,188,450 in 2012. Expenditures from peacekeeping

funds ensured effective coordination and operations

in support of UNOCI and Ivorian authorities.

Côte d’Ivoire

IncomeF r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

Coordination 1,361,459

Operation 4,826,991

Total 6,188,450

ExpenditureFrom UN Peacekeeping Assessed Budget Outstanding advances to

implementing partners as of

31 December 2012

Expenditure for the period

1 January 2012 to 31

December 2012

Total

Coordination • 1,107,752 1,107,752

Operation • 3,927,483 3,927,483

Total (US$) • 5,035,235 5,035,235

46

Darfur

Appropriations under the mine action component

of the UNAMID peacekeeping budget totaled US

$10,115,000 in 2012, in support of coordination,

capacity development and clearance operations.

Darfur

IncomeF r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

Coordination 4,349,450

Operation 5,765,550

Total (US$) 10,115,000

ExpenditureF r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Coordination • 3,061,199 3,061,199

Operation • 4,057,869 4,057,869

Total (US$) • 7,119,068 7,119,068

Democratic Republic of Congo

Voluntary contributions from the Governments of

Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland

to the UNMAS programme in the Democratic

Republic of the Congo totaled US $1,116,324, while

appropriations for the mine action component of

the MONUSCO peacekeeping budget totaled US

$6,643,956. Expenditures from peacekeeping funds

ensured effective coordination and operations

in support of MONUSCO mandate. Voluntary

contributions supported coordination, emergency

surveys, landmine and ERW clearance, mine risk

education, victim assistance as well as ammunition

safety management.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 1 , 1 1 6 , 3 2 4

F r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

Coordination 2,358,604

Operation 4,285,352

S u b to t a l 6 ,6 4 3 , 956

Total (US$) 7,760,280

47

Democratic Republic of the Congo (continued)

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Clearance 62,619 62,619

Coordination 121,025 3,356,893 3,477,918

S u b to t a l 1 21 ,02 5 3 ,4 1 9 , 51 3 3 , 5 4 0, 5 3 7

F r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed B u d g e t

Coordination • 1,935,376 1,935,376

Operation • 3,516,387 3,516,387

S u b to t a l • 5 ,4 51 ,76 3 5 ,4 51 ,76 3

Total (US$) 121,025 8,871,276 8,992,300

Lebanon

Voluntary contributions of US $1,102,404 were

provided by the Governments of Austria, Republic of

Korea and Saudi Arabia. Funds appropriated by the

UN General Assembly for the mine action component

Lebanon

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 1 , 1 0 2 , 4 0 4

F r o m U N P e a c e k ee p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

Coordination 1,362,750

Total (US$) 2,465,154

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Clearance • 684,950 684,950

Coordination and quality assurance • 313,881 313,881

Victim Assistance 49,157 1,378 50,536

S u b to t a l 4 9 , 1 57 1 ,000, 209 1 ,0 4 9, 366

F r o m U N P e a c e k ee p i n g A s se s sed B u d g e t

Coordination • 955,588 955,588

S u b to t a l • 95 5 , 5 8 8 95 5 , 5 8 8

Total (US$) 49,157 1,955,797 2,004,955

of the UNIFIL budget of US $1,362,750 supported

clearance, coordination, quality assurance and victim

assistance activities.

48

Libya

Voluntary contributions of US $5,068,154 were

provided from the Governments of Australia, Austria,

Brazil, Canada, Estonia, Italy, Republic of Korea,

Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the

United Kingdom, to initiate an emergency response

and further support clearance and ammunition

management activities. Contributions from both

Australia and Republic of Korea were applied in

2012, and already accounted for in the 2011 report.

Libya

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 5 , 0 6 8 , 1 5 4

F r o m U N R eg u l a r B u d g e t 1 , 0 4 4 , 1 0 9

Total 6,112,263

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Emergency response in Libya 1,007,262 5,149,072 6,156,334

S u b to t a l 1 ,00 7, 26 2 5 , 14 9 ,0 7 2 6 , 1 56 , 3 3 4

F r o m U N R eg u l a r B u d g e t • 1 , 0 3 5 , 8 4 9 1 , 0 3 5 , 8 4 9

S u b t o t a l • 1 , 0 3 5 , 8 4 9 1 , 0 3 5 , 8 4 9

Total (US$) 1,007,262 6,184,922 7,192,184

Nepal

Income

F r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Coordination • 2,431 2,431

Total (US$) • 2,431 2,431

Palestine

Voluntary contributions of US $773,680 were

provided for Palestine by the Governments of Belgium,

Germany, Netherlands and Spain, New Zealand, as

well as SIDA through in-kind MSB contribution and

the CERF. These allowed life-saving operations to take

place throughout the Gaza strip during 2012. Mine

action interventions included risk assessments, EOD

operations, capacity development and coordination

with stakeholders.

49

Palestine

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 7 7 3 , 6 8 0

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s t o

i m p l e m e nt i n g p a r t n e r s

a s o f 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Clearance, mine risk education and capacity

building

105,851 1,782,351 1,888,202

Total (US$) 105,851 1,782,351 1,888,202

Sudan

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 4 , 3 1 9 , 9 7 5

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s t o

i m p l e m e nt i n g p a r t n e r s

a s o f 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Integrated landmine and ERW survey and

clearance 577,188 2,580,446 3,157,634

Technical assistance and coordination 157,508 1,738,580 1,896,087

Mine risk education • 207,874 207,874

Victim assistance 107,955 414,796 522,751

Survey and clearance 15,435 689,597 705,032

Total (US$) 858,086 5,631,292 6,489,378

Sudan

Voluntary contributions yielded US $4,319,975 from

the Governments of Japan and the United Kingdom,

as well as the Common Humanitarian Fund. Funds

covered survey and clearance, technical assistance

and coordination, mine risk education and victim

assistance activities.

South Sudan

Appropriations under the mine action component

of the UNISFA peacekeeping budget totaled US

$37,258,583 in 2012. In addition, the European

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

provided US $2,753,361 to support the deployment of

a dedicated road clearance capacity in the northern

border states16

16 This amount represents 80 per cent of the total funds received from ECHO as the agency provided 80 per cent at the beginning of the project (referred to as “action”) and will provide 20 per cent, to reimburse costs incurred for the action upon acceptance of the final report in 2013. To note, the entire contribution from ECHO was spent during the year 2012.

50

South Sudan

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 2 , 2 0 2 , 6 8 9

F r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

Coordination 7,824,302

Operation 29,434,281

S u b to t a l 3 7, 2 5 8 , 5 8 3

Total (US$) 39,461,272

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Mine Risk Education and Victim Assistance

Total

111,151 2,091,537 2,202,689

S u b to t a l 1 1 1 , 1 51 2 ,091 , 5 3 7 2 , 202 ,6 8 9

F r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

Coordination • 5,206,857 5,206,857

Operation • 19,587,700 19,587,700

S u b to t a l • 2 4 ,7 9 4 , 5 56 2 4 ,7 9 4 , 5 56

Total (US$) 111,151 26,886,094 26,997,245

Somalia

Voluntary contributions yielded US $12,053,843

from the European Union and the Governments

of Austria, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Funds of US $32,377,750 for mine action activities

supporting AMISOM were made available under the

commitment approved by the UN General Assembly.

US $12,053,843 from the European Union and the

Governments of Austria, Italy, Japan, and the United

Kingdom.

Somalia

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 1 2 , 0 5 3 , 8 4 3

F r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

Coordination 12,141,656

Operation 20,236,094

S u b to t a l 3 2 , 3 7 7,750

Total (US$) 44,431,593

51

Somalia (continued)

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Integrated Landmine and ERW Survey and

Clearance 3,331,444 5,714,271 9,045,715

S u b to t a l 3 , 3 31 ,4 4 4 5 ,7 14 , 2 7 1 9 ,0 4 5 ,7 1 5

F r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed B u d g e t

Coordination • 8,232,512 8,232,512

Operation • 13,720,854 13,720,854

S u b to t a l • 21 , 95 3 , 366 21 , 95 3 , 366

Total (US$) 3,331,444 27,667,637 30,999,081

Syria

Appropriations under the UN Peacekeeping Assessed

Budget amounted to US $1,428,000, enabling a

strategic presence on the ground that provided

technical expertise on explosive hazards, as well as

Syria

IncomeF r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed B u d g e t

Coordination 1,428,000

Operation

Total (US$) 1,428,000

ExpenditureF r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed

B u d g e t

O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Coordination • 742,148 742,148

Operation •

Total (US$) • 742,148 742,148

risk awareness and training to UN military observers

and UN civilian staff.

52

Western Sahara, Territory of

Voluntary contributions from the Government of

Spain totaled US $259,388, while appropriations

under the mine action component of the MINURSO

peacekeeping budget totaled US $2,600,590.

These funds ensured that essential resources were

Western Sahara, Territory of

IncomeF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d 2 5 9 , 3 8 8

F r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed B u d g e t

702,159

Coordination 1,898,431

Operation

S u b to t a l 2 ,600, 590

Total (US$) 2,859,978

ExpenditureF r o m Vo lu nt a r y T r u s t F u n d O ut s t a n d i n g a dv a n c e s

t o i m p l e m e nt i n g

p a r t n e r s a s o f 3 1

D ec e m be r 2 01 2

E x pe n d it u r e f o r t h e

pe r i od 1 Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 2

t o 3 1 D e c e m be r 2 0 1 2

T o t a l

Clearance 3,533 170,733 174,267

Mine Risk Education and Victim Assistance 155,822 29,321 185,143

S u b to t a l 1 59 , 3 5 5 200,05 4 3 59,4 09

F r o m U N P e a c e k e e p i n g A s se s sed B u d g e t

Coordination • 548,723 548,723

Operation • 1,483,585 1,483,585

S u b to t a l • 2 ,03 2 , 309 2 ,03 2 , 309

Total (US$) 159,355 2,232,363 2,391,718

available to conduct mine detection, ERW clearance

operations and survey activities to alleviate the threat

of landmines to the local population as well as to UN

personnel during patrols.

53

ACRONYMS

AMISOM: African Union Mission in SomaliaCAAMI: National Mine Action Coordination Centre CAP: Consolidated Appeals ProcessCASA: Coordinating Action on Small ArmsCHF: Common Humanitarian Trust Fund for SudanCND: National Demining CentreCPN (M): Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)DCA: DanChurchAidDDG: Danish Demining GroupDFID: Department for International DevelopmentDFS: UN Department of Field SupportDPA: UN Department of Political AffairsDPKO: UN Department of Peacekeeping OperationsDSS: UN Department of Safety and SecurityEMSA: Explosive Management Support to AMISOMEOD: Explosive ordnance disposalERW: Explosive remnant of warEU: European UnionFRCI; Forces républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire FSD: Swiss Foundation for Mine ActionGenCap: Gender Stand-by Capacity Project GICHD: Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian DeminingGIS: Geographic information systemGMAP: Gender in Mine Action Programmes HAP: Humanitarian Action PlanHI: Handicap International IACG-MA: Inter-Agency Coordination Group for Mine ActionIASC: Inter-Agency Standing CommitteeIASG-CPRD: Inter-Agency Support Group for the Convention on the Rights of

Persons with DisabilitiesIATG: International Ammunition Technical GuidelinesICBL: International Campaign to Ban LandminesICRC: International Committee of the Red CrossIDF: Israeli Defense Forces IDPs: Internally displaced personsIED: Improvised explosive deviceILO: International Labour OrganizationIMAS: International Mine Action StandardsIMSMA: Information Management System for Mine ActionINSEC: Informal Sector Service Center IOM: International Organization for MigrationIPDET: International Programme for Development Evaluation TrainingIPSAS: International Public Sector Accounting StandardsIRU: International Road Transport UnionJMACT: Joint Mine Action Coordination TeamLMA: Landmine Action UKLMAC: Lebanese Mine Action CentreLUTCAM: Lutamos Todos Contra Minas MACC: Mine Action Coordination CentreMACCA: Mine Action Coordination Centre for AfghanistanMAG: Mines Advisory GroupMAPA: Mine Action Programme for AfghanistanMASG: Mine Action Support GroupMDGs: Millennium Development GoalsMINURCAT: UN Mission in the Central African Republic of ChadMINURSO: UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

54

MONUC: UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the CongoMONUSCO: UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the CongoMSB: Swedish Civil Contingencies AgencyNAMACC: Nepal Army Mine Action Coordination CentreNATO: North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNGO: Non-governmental organizationNMAC: National Mine Action CentreNPA: Norwegian People’s AidOAS: Organization of American StatesOCHA: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian AffairsODO: Office of Ordnance Disposal OHCHR: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human RightsOMAR: Organisation for Mine Clearance and Afghan RehabilitationOROLSI: DPKO Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions PAICMA: Presidential Programme for Integrated Mine Action in ColombiaPolisario: Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de OroRMA: Royal Moroccan ArmyRMAC: Regional Mine Action CenterSDC: Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationSIDA: Swedish International Development Cooperation AgencySMAC: Somaliland Mine Action CentreSSMAA: South Sudan Mine Action AuthoritySYLAM: Mine Action SynergyTMAC: Tajikistan Mine Action Centre UNAMA: UN Assistance Mission in AfghanistanUNAMI: UN Assistance Mission for Iraq UNAMID: African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in DarfurUN-DESA: UN Department for Economic and Social AffairsUNDOF: UN Disengagement Observer Force (Golan Heights)UNDP: UN Development ProgrammeUNFICYP: UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus UNHCR: UN High Commissioner for RefugeesUNICEF: UN Children’s FundUNIFIL: UN Interim Force in LebanonUNIOGBIS: UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau UNISFA: UN Interim Security Force for Abyei UNMACC: UN Mine Action Coordination Centre UNMAO: UN Mine Action OfficeUNMAS: UN Mine Action ServiceUNMAST: UN Mine Action Support TeamUNMAT: UN Mine Action TeamUNMIS: UN Mission in the SudanUNMISS: UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan UNOCI: UN Operation in Côte d’IvoireUNODA: UN Office for Disarmament AffairsUNODC: UN Office on Drugs and CrimeUNPFN: UN Peace Fund for NepalUNRWA: UN Relief and Works AgencyUNSMIL: UN Support Mission in LibyaUNSOA: UN Support Office for the African Union Mission in SomaliaUNSOMA: UN Somalia Mine ActionUOS: UkroboronserviceUXO: Unexploded ordnanceVTF: Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine ActionWHO: World Health Organization

55

PHOTO

Cover | UNMAS/Gwenn Dubourthoumieu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

p. II | UNMAS/Elena Rice, South Sudan

p. IV | HALO Trust, Colombia

p. VI | N.Quigley, Somalia

p. 2 | UNMAS/Gwenn Dubourthoumieu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

P.8 – 9 (Left to right)

UNMAS, Mali | UN Photo/David Manyua, Syria

P10 – 11(Left to right)

UNMAS/Marco Grob, South Sudan | UNMAS, Afghanistan

P13 | HALO Trust, Colombia

P14 – 15 (Left to right)

UN Photo/Patricia Esteve, Côte d’Ivoire | UN Photo/Albert Gonzalez Farran, Sudan

P16 - 17(Left to right)

UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti, Democratic Republic of the Congo | UN Photo/Pasqual Gorriz, Lebanon

P18 – 19 (Left to right)

UNMAS, Libya | UNMAS, Palestine

P20 – 21 (Left to right)

UNMAS, Palestine | UN Photo/Tobin Jones, Somalia

P23 | UNMAS/Marco Grob, South Sudan

P24 | UNMAS, Western Sahara, Territory of

P27 | UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

P29 | UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

P33 | UNMAS, Libya

P34 | UNMAS/Elena Rice, South Sudan

Inside Cover

UNMAS/Marco Grob, South Sudan

Back Cover

UNMAS, Western Sahara, Territory of

Mundari tribe members in South Sudan are especially

vulnerable to the threat of land mines and other

unexploded ordnance as they move around the country

with their cattle. UNMAS has worked in Sudan since 2005

and in South Sudan since it became independent in 2011.

UNMAS/Marco Grob, South Sudan

58

Printed at the United Nations, New York13-05932—August 2013—350

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